Electrophysiological properties of phrenic motoneurons (PMs) were studied by intracellular recordings in anesthetized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated adult rats. Our results revealed that rat PMs, as compared to cat PMs, had a shorter afterhyperpolarization duration (55 +/- 13 ms; mean +/- SD), a narrower half-width of action potential, a larger membrane input resistance (Rm; 2.0 +/- 0.6 M omega), a smaller rheobase (Irh) and a shorter minimum paired pulse interval to provoke the second spike (1.9 +/- 0.6 ms). These features indicate that the rat PMs possess higher frequency responsiveness than cat PMs. Based on the time of firing onset relative to the onset of whole phrenic nerve activity (relative onset time; ROT) or on the absence of discharge during inspiration, the PMs could be classified into four types: early recruited with ROT < 10.0%; late recruited with 12.5% < ROT < 37.5%; very late recruited with ROT > 45%, and quiescent which was not recruited during normal experimental conditions. A number of differences in the membrane properties such as end-expiratory membrane potential, Rm, and Irh among the four cell types are discussed in relation to the recruitment order. Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were present during the late expiratory phase (stage II expiration) in all PMs tested.