This review is derived from the symposium held at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Pharmacological Society (March, 1993). The symposium consisted of six invited papers whose general theme was the application of recently found ATPase inhibitors selective to SR and ER-Ca²⁺-ATPase to the analyses of the physiological and pharmacological roles of endoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca stores. Inhibitors used were: thapsigargin, cyclopiazonic acid, 2, 5-di-(t-butyl)-1, 4-benzohydroquinone and 3', 3", 5', 5"-tetraiodosulfophthalein. Gingerol was found to facilitate the action of the ATPase. In either smooth, cardiac or skeletal muscle, sympathetic neurons or several cell lines these inhibitors affected a variety of cell functions and conditions such as contraction, ionic conductance and excitability of the plasma membrane, regulation of intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration, transport of viral glycoprotein to the cell surface. Many of these studies utilized either single or cultured cell preparations or skinned muscle. These inhibitors were shown to be useful tools for investigating the SR and ER functioning as Ca sources or Ca sequestrating pumps, and further for estimating the contribution of ER or SR to regulating the flux of Ca²⁺ and other ions through the plasma membrane. Results of analyses using these inhibitors are discussed.