Transitional cells of the crista ampullaris were impaled with microelectrodes in order to record the membrane potential (PD) and to investigate membrane properties. In control solution the PD was -87 +/- 1 mV (n = 103). This value is not significantly different from -83 +/- 2 mV (n = 24) measured in Cl- free solution. [Cl-] steps from 150 to 15 mmol/l (n = 24) depolarized the membrane by about 2 mV, indicating a minor Cl- conductance. The transference number for K+ was 0.75 +/- 0.01 (n = 79) obtained from the PD responses to K+ steps from 3.6 to 25 mmol/l. The cell membrane depolarized and the amplitude of PD responses to [K+] steps was reduced by Ba2+ (2.10(-6) to 10(-3) mol/l), quinidine (10(-3) mol/l), quinine (10(-3) mol/l), Rb+ (20 mmol/l), Cs+ (20 mmol/l), NH4+ (20 mmol/l) and Tl+ (0.5 mmol/l), whereas tetraethylammonium (TEA, 20 mmol/l) had no effect. The dose-response curve for Ba2+ in the presence of 3.6 mmol/l K+ was shifted to the right by approximately three decades in the presence of 25 mmol/l K+ and by a factor of about 4 in the presence of 135 mmol/l gluconate as a substitute for Cl-. Transitional cells were depolarized by ouabain, suggesting the presence of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.