Whole cell patch-clamp recording of cultured chick spinal neurons, presumed to be motoneurons, revealed currents elicited in these cells by GABA, glycine and beta-alanine, corresponding to the opening of chloride channels. During maturation, sensitivity to all three transmitters were first detected on the day 6 of culture, and appeared in most neurons by day 8. However, at all stages of development, a fraction of the cells were sensitive only to GABA; this observation supports the notion that the GABA and the glycine receptors are distinct. On the other hand, separate activation by glycine and beta-alanine was never observed, in agreement with the postulate that these amino acids bind to the same receptor.