Previous studies showed that deoxycholic acid (DCA) stimulated migrating action potential complexes (MAPC) in the colon. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of DCA-stimulated colonic motility. Myoelectrical and contractile activity were measured in New Zealand White rabbits from a loop constructed in the proximal colon. During the control period, slow waves were present at a frequency of 10.8 +/- 0.5 cycle/min and there were 1.5 +/- 0.5 MAPC/ h. After adding DCA (16 mM) to the loop the slow wave activity was unchanged. However, MAPC increased to 15.1 +/- 2.4 MAPC/h (P less than 0.001). MAPC activity was not stimulated in the colonic smooth muscle outside the loop. The intraluminal addition of procaine or tetrodotoxin to the colonic loop inhibited the DCA-stimulated increase in MAPC activity (0.2 +/- 0.2 MAPC/h) (P less than 0.005). Intravenous administration of atropine or phentolamine also inhibited MAPC activity that had been stimulated by DCA (P less than 0.005). Pretreatment with 6-hydroxydopamine also inhibited an increase in MAPC activity. Propranolol, trimethaphan camsylate, or hexamethonium had no effect on DCA stimulation of MAPC activity. Although the concentration of bile salt increased in the mesenteric venous outflow from the colonic loop, the intravenous administration of bile salt did not stimulate colonic MAPC activity. These studies suggest: (a) the action of DCA on smooth muscle activity is a local phenomenon, (b) the increase in MAPC activity is dependent on intact cholinergic and alpha adrenergic neurons, and (c) an increase in the concentration of bile salts in the serum is not associated with an increase in colonic MAPC activity.