The effect of somatostatin on gastric evacuation, small bowel propulsion and gastrointestinal (GI) absorption of calcium was studied in conscious rats. Nonabsorbable 125I-PVP was deposited in the stomach or in the duodenum and the distribution of the radioactivity along the excised GI specimen was recorded after 15 min. 47Ca in chloride form was administered simultaneously and the amount of radioactivity remaining in the GI specimen at sacrifice could easily be measured. Intravenous infusion of synthetic somatostatin (50 μg·kg-1·h-1), which resulted in a manifest although not extreme hypersomatostatinemia had no effect either on gastric evacuation, small bowel propulsion or GI absorption of calcium. The findings do not indicate that somatostatin has a direct effect on GI motility or absorption of calci