1. Brainstem slices were taken from mature rats. In the dorsal vagal nucleus (DVNX), membrane potentials (Em) of neurons (DVNs) and glia, as well as extracellular oxygen, K+ and pH (Po2, aKO, pHO), were analysed during metabolic disturbances.2. Postsynaptic potentials of DVNs, elicited by repetitive electrical stimulation of the solitary tract (TS), led to a secondary glial depolarization of up to 25 mV, a fall in Po. of up to 150 mmHg, a rise in extracellular aKo of up to 9 mm, and a fall in pHo of about 0-2 pH units.3. Hypoxic superfusates produced tissue anoxia, leading to an aK. increase of less than 2 mM and a pHo fall of 024 + 0 04 pH units (mean + S.D.). Glucose-free solution evoked, after a delay of more than 8 min, a slow rise in aKo of 1-9 + 0-8 mm, accompanied by a mean increase in pHo of 0-24 + 0-13 pH units. After pre-incubation in glucose-free solution, anoxia elevated aKo by up to 15 mm, whereas the anoxia-induced pHo decrease was completely blocked. 4. In 45 of 118 DVNs, anoxia elicited a persistent hyperpolarization of 15'6 + 5 0 mV. In the remaining DVNs, anoxic exposure either did not produce a change in Em (37 %) or led to a depolarization of less than 10 mV (25 %). A stable depolarization of 9 + 3 8 mV was detected in glial cells during anoxia. Similar responses were revealed in oxygenated glucose-free solution after a delay of 12-60 min.5. The metabolism-related hyperpolarizations were blocked by 100-500 /uM tolbutamide or 20-100 AM glibenclamide, leading to recovery of spontaneous (0-5-6 Hz) spike discharge. In these cells, 400-500 uM diazoxide evoked hyperpolarizations and blockade of spontaneous activity. 6. In DVNs and glial cells, a progressive depolarization of up to 40 mV in amplitude developed during anoxic exposure after pre-incubation in glucose-free solution. 7. The results show that oxygen or glucose depletion does not impair the viability of DVNX cells. The contribution of neuronal ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels to this tolerance is discussed.