Intracellular microelectrode recordings were made from superfused in vitro preparations of mouse lacrimal gland. The lacrimal acinar cell had a mean resting membrane potential of -44.1 +/- 0.5 mV and a mean input resistance of 3.5 +/- 0.15 M omega. Electrical field stimulation (FS) had similar effects to ACh applied by microionophoresis, both evoking a biphasic membrane hyperpolarization (up to 15 mV) accompanied by a reduction in input resistance. The equilibrium potential values (EFS and EACh) for the responses to brief duration FS and ACh ionophoresis ranged between -45 and -75 mV and depended on the time at which measurements were made following the onset of stimulation. Superfusion of ACh or adrenaline also caused membrane hyperpolarization and increased membrane conductance. Estimations of EFS and EACh made during prolonged periods of FS and ACh superfusion yielded mean values of -53.9 +/- 1.9 mV and -53.4 +/- 1.5 mV respectively. FS evoked a response in all preparations tested with maximal effects seen at 40 Hz frequency. The mean latency of the FS-evoked hyperpolarization (40 Hz) was 270 +/- 21 ms and that for the ACh ionophoretic response was 400 +/- 65 ms. Low frequency FS (0.5-5 Hz) also induced membrane hyperpolarization and responses to single shock stimuli were occasionally observed. The FS-evoked hyperpolarization was abolished following the blockade of nerve conduction by superfusion of either Na-free or tetrodotoxin-containing media. Effects of FS were not seen in the presence of atropine. Neostigmine potentiated the FS- and ACh-evoked hyperpolarizations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)