Fasted rats with chronically implanted electrodes were used for investigation of the effects of mast cell degranulation induced by compound 48/80 and BrX-537A and their antagonism by previous administration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) antagonists on duodenal and jejunal myoelectric activity. Administered i.p., both 48/80 (1 mg/kg i.p.) and BrX-537A (2 mg/kg i.p.) abolished the intestinal spiking activity of duodeno-jejunum with a progressive recovery, BrX-537A being less active. These effects were dose-related. Injected prior to 48/80, methysergide (1 mg/kg) reduced by about 80% both duodenal and jejunal inhibition of spiking activity with early recovery of a normal pattern. In contrast, ketanserin (1 mg/kg) had selective reducing effects on the duration of the spiking inhibition induced by 48/80 and BrX-537A on the duodenum only. Zacopride (1 mg/kg) and ICS 205-930 (50 micrograms/kg) shortened and suppressed, respectively, the inhibition of intestinal spiking activity with early restoration of intestinal motility in both duodenum and jejunum. We conclude that, in fasted rats (i) the degranulation of peritoneal mast cells induces alterations in intestinal myoelectric activity through the release of 5-HT (ii) these effects are mainly mediated through both 5-HT1 and 5-HT3 receptors.