Characteristics of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors on melanotrophs of the rat pars intermedia were studied by intracellular recording. Muscimol and 3-amino-1-propanesulfonic acid, but not baclofen or glycine, mimicked the depolarization and conductance increase produced by gamma-aminobutyric acid on the melanotrophs. These effects appeared to be due to an increase in chloride ion conductance since the null potentials for all three drugs were the same and were affected by changes in external or internal chloride ion concentration but not by changes in the concentrations of other ions present in the recording solution or by the addition of the calcium-channel blocker cobalt. Bicuculline abolished the effect of muscimol. Picrotoxin reduced the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid; so too did furosemide. Muscimol mimicked the ability of gamma-aminobutyric acid to reduce the depolarization produced by excess potassium and this effect was also blocked by bicuculline. Rat melanotrophs thus appear to possess gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor-ionophore complexes similar to the classical sort found in neurons in the mammalian central nervous system. Furthermore, the parallels between the electrical responses observed and secretory effects previously noted, reinforce the view that electrical activity may participate in stimulus-secretion coupling in melanotrophs.