Neuropeptide Y, PYY, and PP (200 pmol) alter intraluminal pressure in the duodenum and colon of rats following their administration into the thoracic (T8-T10) region of the spinal cord. Neuropeptide Y decreases the tone of the duodenum and the colon following intrathecal (T8-T10) administration prior to an increase in tone to baseline or greater. There is no effect on intraluminal pressure of either the duodenum or the colon following intrathecal administration of NPY or PP into the lumbar (L4-L5) region of the spinal cord. Following intrathecal (T8-T10) administration of PYY and PP, increases in intraduodenal pressures are observed (+2.1 and +3.0 mmHg from saline baseline). Phasic contractions of the duodenum are increased following intrathecal administration of PYY into the thoracic spinal cord of rats. Neuropeptide Y, PYY, and PP increase intracolonic pressure +2.2, +3.3, and +3.7 mmHg from saline baseline, respectively. Phasic contractions of the colon are increased following PP intrathecal thoracic administration. Responsiveness of the duodenum or colon to the different ligands of the PP-fold peptide family in the absence of alpha-adrenergic blockade did not vary. The increases in intraluminal pressure of the duodenum and colon following intrathecal administration of the PP-fold peptides are attenuated by both alpha-1 adrenergic (prazosin) and alpha-2 adrenergic (yohimbine) blockade. There is a difference in responsiveness of the colon between the ligands of the PP-fold family in the presence of the alpha-2 adrenergic blockade. The findings of this study indicate that duodenal and colonic motility are modulated by the PP-fold peptides at thoracic spinal sites via alteration of sympathetic outflow.