The actions of L-glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) were studied with intracellular recordings from cat abducens motoneurones. Amino acids were electrophoresed extracellularly from the same 7-barreled electrode types as those used in the spinal cord. Depolarization development, conductance changes and firing pattern induced by amino acids were very similar to those described for spinal motoneurones. The shape of NMDA depolarization suggests a uniform distribution of the involved receptors on the membrane of the motoneurone.