Nerve fibers containing activin-like immunoreactivity have been shown to be present within the area of the supraoptic nucleus. In this study, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from supraoptic magnocellular neurosecretory cells were used to characterize the electrophysiological effects of this peptide. Nanomolar concentrations of recombinant activin-A caused the appearance of a voltage-independent current reversing near -40 mV. At resting potential, membrane depolarization caused by this current was sufficient to accelerate action potential discharge, suggesting that activin receptors expressed on magnocellular neurosecretory cells may play a role in the control of neurohypophysial hormone release.