The role of intracellular Ca2+ release in the activation of human bladder smooth muscle is controversial. We have measured the expression of mRNA encoding for the ryanodine receptor (RyR) isoforms (RyR1, RyR2 and RyR3) in isolated human detrusor smooth muscle. mRNA for RyR2 was detected in all samples but no mRNA for RyR1 or RyR3 could be found. Human bladder smooth muscle cells in culture are unresponsive to caffeine, suggesting the absence of a functional RyR system. However, mRNA encoding for RyR2 was detected in these cells. Using saponin-permeabilized cells, a Ruthenium Red-sensitive Ca2+-dependent 45Ca2+ release could be demonstrated from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). These data confirm the functional presence of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) in cells and suggest that the properties of the RyR2 isoform in human detrusor may change when the cells are maintained in culture. The implications of these observations to detrusor smooth muscle function are discussed.