Endothelin (ET) causes contraction of the muscularis mucosae in the guinea pig esophagus, but its role in the human esophagus remains unknown. To investigate effects of ET in the human esophagus, we measured contraction of isolated human esophageal muscularis mucosae strips caused by ET related peptides and binding of 125I-ET-1 to cell membranes prepared from the human esophageal muscularis mucosae. Autoradiography demonstrated specific binding of 125I-ET-1 to the muscularis mucosae and muscularis propria (muscularis externa) of the human esophagus. ET-1 caused tetrodotoxin and atropine-insensitive contraction of muscularis mucosae strips. In terms of the maximal tension of contraction, ET-1 and ET-2 were equal in efficacy. The relative potencies for ET related peptides to cause contraction were ET-1=ET-2>ET-3>sarafotoxin S6c (SX6c), an ETB receptor agonist. ET-1 caused contraction was mildly inhibited by BQ-123, an ETA receptor antagonist, and not by BQ-788, an ETB receptor antagonist. It was moderately inhibited by the combination of both antagonists, indicating synergistic inhibition. Furthermore, desensitization to SX6c with SX6c pretreatment failed to abolish the contractile response to ET-1, which was completely inhibited by BQ-123. These indicate the involvement of both ETA and ETB receptors in the contraction. Binding of 125I-ET-1 to cell membranes of the muscularis mucosae was saturable and specific. Analysis of dose-inhibition curves demonstrated the presence of ETA and ETB receptors. This study demonstrates that, the muscularis mucosae of the human esophagus, similar to that of the guinea pig esophagus, possesses both ETA and ETB receptors mediating muscle contraction.