When exposed to hypoxic conditions, coronary arteries dilate, which is an important protective response. Although vessel sensitivity to oxygen is well documented, the mechanisms are not known with certainty. To further characterize the mechanisms of oxygen sensing in the coronary artery, we tested the major classes of hypotheses by measuring the effects of hypoxia on energetics, [Ca2+]i, K+channel function, and pHi. Hypoxia relaxes porcine coronary arteries stimulated with either KCl or U46619. The extent of relaxation is dependent on both the degree and kind of stimulation. [Ca2+]iwas measured in endothelium-denuded arteries using fura 2-AM and ratiometric fluorescent techniques. At lower stimulus levels, hypoxia decreased both force and [Ca2+]i. Inhibitor studies suggest that KCaand KATPchannels are not involved in the hypoxic relaxation, whereas KVchannels may play a minor role, if any. Despite the hypoxia-mediated decrease in force, [Ca2+]iwas unchanged or increased at high levels of stimulation. Despite a marked increase in lactate content, pHi(measured with the ratiometric fluorescent dye BCECF) was also little affected by hypoxia. Measurement of the phosphagen and metabolite profile of freeze-clamped arteries with analytical isotachophoresis indicated that hypoxia increased lactate content by 4-fold and decreased phosphocreatine to 60% of control. However, neither ATP nor Piwas affected by hypoxia. Interestingly, additional stimulation under hypoxia increased force but not ATP utilization, as estimated from measurements of anaerobic lactate production. Thus, surprisingly, the economy of force maintenance is increased under hypoxia. In porcine coronary artery, both Ca2+-dependent and, importantly, Ca2+-independent mechanisms are involved in hypoxic vasodilatation. For the latter, mechanisms involving either ATP, [Ca2+]i, pHi, or Picannot be invoked. This novel oxygen sensing mechanism involves a decreased Ca2+sensitivity.