The influence of central vs. peripheral administration of σ ligands (dl- and 1-N-allylnormetazocine, 1-3-di-o-tolylguanidine, (+) cinnamyl-1-phenyl-1-N-methyl-N-cyclopropylene and phencyclidine on colonic motility was investigated in fasted and fed dogs equipped with strain-gauge transducers implanted on proximal and transverse colon. When injected intravenously at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg just before feeding, dl- or d-N-allylnormetazocine, 1-3-di-otolylguanidine, and (+) cinnamyl-1-phenyl-1-N-methyl-N-cyclopropylene (but not phencyclidine) enhanced the colonic motor response to a meal by increasing the 0-4-hour motility indexes from 64.1%-159.3% in both the proximal and transverse colon but had no effect on colonic motility in fasted animals or animals injected intracerebroventricularly. The motor-stimulatory effects of d-N-allylnormetazocine (1 mg/kg), 1-3-di-o-tolylguanidine (0.25 mg/kg), and (+) cinnamyl-1-phenyl-1-N-methyl-N-cyclopropylene (1 mg/kg) were abolished after previous treatment with haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg, intravenous) but not after sulpiride (0.1 mg/kg) or (+) R-(+)-8-chloro2,3,4, 5-tetrahydro-3-methyl-5-phenyl-1-H-3-benzozepine-OH. Prazosin (0.1 mg/kg, intravenous) and 1-methyl-3-(2-indolyl) amino-5-phenyl-3H-1, 4-benzodiazepin-2-one (0.01 mg/kg) also suppressed the enhancement of the colonic motor response to eating induced by d-N-allylnormetazocine, 1-3-di-o-tolylguanidine, and (+) cinnamyl-1-phenyl-1-N-methyl-N-cyclopropylene whereas naltrexone did not affect their effects. It is concluded that d-N-allylnormetazocine, 1-3-di-o-tolylguanidine, and (+) cinnamyl-1phenyl-1-N-methyl-N-cyclopropylene stimulate the postprandial colonic motility in dogs by acting selectively on σ receptors located peripherally and probably by affecting the release of cholecystokinin octapeptide through a central adrenergic mechanism. © 1990.