Single cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channels were reconstituted into planar bilayer membranes. Streaming potentials were measured in osmotically asymmetric solutions as a shift in the reversal potential. Potential changes induced by water movement through the bilayer (concentration polarization) and reduced ion activity in the concentrated non-electrolyte solutions were determined using valinomycin. In 400 mM symmetrical CsCH3SO3, the average streaming potential was 2.74 +/- 0.2 mV (n = 5, mean +/- SE; 2 osmol/kg) and independent of the osmoticant used (sucrose or diglycine). Identical streaming potential magnitudes were obtained regardless of which side of the membrane the nonelectrolyte was placed. This suggests that the narrow part of the pore where single file diffusion occurs is relatively short (i.e., accommodates a minimum of 3 H2O molecules). This value is comparable to similar measurements in a variety of surface membrane channels. Ryanodine-modified channels had no measurable streaming potential, an increased Tris+ permeability relative to Cs+, and decreased divalent selectivity (PCs/PTris 5.1 +/- 1.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.3, n = 3; PBa/PCs 8.2 +/- 0.7 to 1.8 +/- 0.5, n = 4). Cation/anion selectivity was essentially unaltered in ryanodine-modified channels. These results suggests that the narrow region of the permeation pathway (i.e., the selectivity filter) is relatively short and widens after ryanodine modification.