It has previously been demonstrated that an activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors can induce fictive locomotion as well as tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant membrane potential oscillations in certain types of neurones in the in vitro preparation of the lamprey spinal cord. These oscillations in individual neurones depend on voltage-sensitive properties of NMDA-activated channels which are only manifested in the presence of Mg2+. To evaluate the role of these pacemaker-like oscillations in the generation of locomotion, the motor patterns induced by N-methyl-D,L-aspartate (NMA) before and after removal of Mg2+ were compared. It was found that the ventral root burst pattern of fictive locomotion was more irregular after removal of Mg2+, particularly at low burst rates. This suggests that the membrane properties underlying the NMDA-induced TTX-resistant membrane potential oscillations are of importance for the generation of a stable and regular locomotor activity in particular at low rates of fictive locomotion. When fictive locomotion was induced instead by an activation of kainate receptors a removal of Mg2+ had no effect on the motor pattern. The effects of the two K+-channel blockers, tetraethylammonium (TEA) and gallamine were also tested on NMA-induced fictive locomotion. Both compounds caused an increase in the burst frequency. The Mg2+-dependent NMDA-induced bistable membrane properties thus appear to be of importance for the operation of the network which generates the locomotor pattern.