1 In urinary bladder, M 2 -muscarinic receptors predominate, but it is the smaller population of M 3 -receptors which mediate detrusor contraction. This study examines the M 2 : M 3 ratio and the role of M 2 -receptors in contraction of pig urinary bladder. 4 On normal detrusor in vitro, 4-DAMP and methoctramine caused surmountable antagonism of responses to carbachol with pK B values of 9.37+0.07 and 6.05+0.05 respectively. Darifenacin caused unsurmountable antagonism, the apparent pK B value being 8.61+0.10. 5 In tissues where the M 3 -receptors had been inactivated and cyclic AMP levels elevated, 4-DAMP and darifenacin were less potent, with apparent pK B values of 8.72+0.08 and 6.74+0.07. In contrast, methoctramine was more potent, the apparent pK B value increasing signi®cantly to 6.86+0.06. 6 These data suggest that the pig bladder possesses a similar muscarinic receptor population to the human bladder and that the M 3 -receptor subtype mediates contraction of the normal detrusor muscle. However an involvement of M 2 -receptors in contraction can be observed following pharmacological manipulation of the receptor population.