1. Themeanrestingmembranepotentialofrattaste cells is - 36 mVunderadap­ tation of the tongue to 41.4 mMNaCI and - 50mV under water adaptation. 2. The shapes ofreceptor potentials ofrattastecells inresponsetothe four basic tastestimuli(0.5MNaCI, 0.02 M Q-HCI, 0.01 MHCl, and0.5 M sucrose)are classified into three types, namely (1) a depolarization alone, (2) a depolariza­ tion preceded by a transient hyperpolarization, and (3) a hyperpolarization alone. No regenerative spike potentials are evoked in rat taste cells by chemical stimuli. The amplitude of rat taste cell responses increases with increasing concentrationofthe taste stimulus. Mostofthe rat taste cells show a multiple sensitivity in that single cells respond to various combinations of the four