Field potentials were evoked in slices of rat olfactory cortex by stimulating the lateral olfactory tract. In addition to previously described components of the wave-form, a further distinct surface-negative potential of low amplitude and long duration (I-wave) has been described. 2. Pentobarbitone, at concentrations of 10(-5) M and above, markedly enhanced enhanced the amplitude and duration of the I-wave with only minimal effect on other components of the field potential. 3. The I-wave was reversibly reduced by the GABA antagonists bicuculline and picrotoxin and was also attenuated at rapid rates of stimulation. Low chloride medium usually caused a transient increase in amplitude of the I-wave followed by a gradual reduction, suggesting that a chloride-mediated depolarization was involved. 4. Evoked inhibition, which was most probably post-synaptic, occurred in parallel with the I-wave. This was monitored as a suppression of, or increase in latency of the population spike evoked by a second stimulus at appropriate intervals after the first. Pentobarbitone substantially increased the duration of the post-synpatic inhibition, without obvious changes in the presynaptic inhibitory phenomenon associated with antidromic firing in the lateral olfactory tract. 5. It is proposed that the I-wave is the field potential representation of a population depolarizing i.p.s.p. and that the main action of pentobarbitone is to enhance this inhibition.
