Ryanodine is a neutral plant alkaloid which functions as a probe for an intracellular Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) in excitable tissues. Using [3H]ryanodine, a 30 S protein complex comprised of four polypeptides of Mr 565,000 has been isolated and functionally reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. The effects of salt concentration and divalent cations on skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum [3H]ryanodine binding and Ca2+ release channel activity have been compared. These studies suggest that ryanodine is a good probe for investigating the function of the release channel.