The ionic mechanism of the slow excitatory postsynaptic potential (slow EPSP), i.e. the muscarinic action of acetylcholine (ACh), was studied either by stimulating preganglionic nerves or by applying ACh in curarized sympathetic ganglion cells of bullfrogs. There are three different types of cells characterized by the effects of membrane hyperpoliarization on the amplitude of slow EPSP. One group of cells showed an increase in amplitude (type 1 cell) and, in two other groups of cells, it remained unchanged (type 2 cell) or decreased (type 3 cell), when the membrane was hyperpolarized. Under the muscarinic effects of ACh, the slope membrane conductance was increased (type 1 cell), unchanged (type 2 cell) or decreased (type 3 cell) at 10-20 mV hyperpolarized levels, while it was unchanged (type 1 cell) or decreased (types 2 and 3 cells) at resting and depolarized levels. In all cells, the slow ACh potential, corresponding to the slow EPSP, was almost completely suppressed in a high K+, Ca2+-free, Na+-free solution. These results suggest that the slow EPSP is generated by increases in Na+ and Ca2+ conductance and also by a simultaneous decrease in the K+ conductance.