1 We have investigated the possible roles of sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) type 1 and 2B in the activity of pig urethral ATP-sensitive K + channels (K ATP channels) by use of patch-clamp and reverse transcriptase -polymerase chain reaction (RT -PCR) techniques. 2 In voltage-clamp experiments, not only diazoxide, a SUR1 and weak SUR2B activator, but also pinacidil, a selective SUR2 activator, caused an inward current at a holding potential of À50 mV in symmetrical 140 mM K + conditions. 3 Gliclazide (p1 mM), a selective SUR1 blocker, inhibited the 10 mM pinacidil-induced currents (K i ¼ 177 mM) and the 500 mM diazoxide-induced currents (high-affinity site, K i1 ¼ 5 nM; low-affinity site, K i2 ¼ 108 mM) at À50 mV. 4 Application of tolbutamide (p100 mM) reversibly caused an inhibition of the 500 mM diazoxideinduced current at -50 mV. 5 MCC-134, a SUR type-specific K ATP channel regulator (1 -100 mM), produced a concentrationdependent inward K + current, which was suppressed by the application of glibenclamide at À50 mV. The amplitude of the MCC-134 (100 mM)-induced current was approximately 50% of that of the 100 mM pinacidil-induced currents. 6 Using cell-attached configuration, MCC-134 activated a glibenclamide-sensitive K ATP channel which was also activated by pinacidil. 7 RT -PCR analysis demonstrated the presence of SUR1 and SUR2B transcripts in pig urethra. 8 These results indicate that both SUR1 and SUR2B subunits play a functional role in regulating the activity of pig urethral K ATP channels and that SUR1 contributes less than 25% to total K ATP currents.