Ghrelin causes interdigestive contractions of the stom- ach in rats. However, it remains unknown whether ghrelin causes interdigestive contractions in the small intestine. Four strain gauge transducers were implanted on the antrum, duodenum, proximal and distal jejunum. After an overnight fast, gastrointestinal (GI) contrac- tions were recorded in freely moving conscious rats. Spontaneous phase Ⅲ-like contractions were observed at every 13-16 min in rat GI tract. The fasted motor patterns were replaced by the fed motor pattern immediately after food intake. Two minutes after f inishing the spontaneous phase Ⅲ-like contractions in the antrum, acyl ghrelin (0.8, 2.4 and 8.0 μg/kg per min) was con- tinuously infused for 30 min. Three-f ive minutes after the starting ghrelin infusion, augmented phase Ⅲ-like contractions were observed at the antrum, duodenum, and jejunum. Ghrelin infusion (0.8, 2.4 and 8.0 μg/kg per min) signif icantly increased motility index of phase Ⅲ-like contractions at the antrum and jejunum in a dose dependent manner, compared to that of saline in- jection. Thus, it is likely that exogenously administered ghrelin causes phase Ⅲ-like contraction at the antrum, which migrates to the duodenum and jejunum. The possible role of 5-HT, in addition to ghrelin, in mediating intestinal migrating motor complex (MMC), is discussed. However, it remains unknown whether ghrelin causes interdigestive contractions in the small intestine. Four strain gauge transducers were implanted on the antrum, duodenum, proximal and distal jejunum. After an overnight fast, gastrointestinal (GI) contrac- tions were recorded in freely moving conscious rats. Spontaneous phase III-like contractions were observed at every 13-16 min in rat GI tract. The fasted motor patterns were replaced by the fed motor pattern immediately after food intake. Two minutes after f inishing the spontaneous phase III-like contractions in the antrum, acyl ghrelin (0.8, 2.4 and 8.0 μg / kg per min) was con- tinuously infused for 30 min. Three-f ive minutes after the starting ghrelin infusion, augmented phase Ⅲ-like contractions were observed at the antrum, duodenum, and jejunum. Ghrelin infusion (0.8, 2.4 and 8.0 μg / kg per min) signif icantly increased motility index of phase Ⅲ-like cont ractions at the antrum and jejunum in a dose dependent manner, compared to that of saline in- jection. Thus, it is likely that exogenously administered ghrelin causes phase Ⅲ-like contraction at the antrum, which migrates to the duodenum and jejunum. The possible role of 5-HT, in addition to ghrelin, in mediating intestinal migrating motor complex (MMC), is discussed.