Synaptic inhibition in the DMV is mainly mediated through GABAergic connections within the vagal complex. The dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) mainly contains well-described preganglionic motor neurons that control the majority of the subdiaphragmatic viscera, especially the gastrointestinal tract, but may also have a few putative interneurons. Experiments were aimed at clarifying and obtaining novel information about the morphological and electrophysiological properties of pre-gastric and GABAergic neurons in the DMV. Our results suggested that most of DMV neurons are preganglionic motor neurons, with a few small and/or GABAergic neurons interspersed, which may be misplaced NTS interneurons GABAA receptors are expressed in the DMV and critically regulate the activity of vagal motor neurons and, by inference, the gastrointestinal tract. In some brain areas, two types of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition have been identified, represented by phasic and tonic inhibitory currents. I tested the hypothesis that the tonic current was present in DMV, and phasic and tonic GABA currents were differently regulated by pharmacological agents. The data presented here support the hypothesis that the tonic current is evident in DMV, and it shows pharmacological properties distinct from those of the phasic current. The tonic current did not depend on the degree of synaptic conductance, and it contributed to DMV neuron membrane potential and activity. Using gabazine, two components of the tonic current were revealed. GABA transporters, THIP and zolpidem differently modulated the GABA currents in DMV, and these drugs all have significant effects on the DMV motor neuron activity. These substances would be expected to have profound effects on the gastrointestinal tract through their significant effects on inhibition of DMV neurons