Amylin injected IP reduced food intake for 2-4 h in subdiaphragmatically vagotomized and in sham-vagotomized rats. The magnitude of the anorectic effect of 0.5 microgram/kg amylin was similar to that of 2.5 micrograms/kg amylin but the duration of the effect was somewhat shorter with the low dose. Amylin (1 microgram/kg, IP) had no influence on gastric emptying. In conclusion, the hypophagic effect of peripherally administered amylin does not depend on an intact abdominal vagus or on an indirect effect via gastric emptying. It may therefore be hypothesized that amylin has a central site of action.