The preceding paper [H. V. Carey, Am. J. Physiol. 263 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 32): R1202-R1208, 1992] demonstrated that a 3-day fast or the extended fast of hibernation enhanced the chloride secretory responses to a variety of agonists in the ground squirrel jejunum. Here we examined the effect of jejunal bypass on intestinal secretory capacity in squirrels that either remained active and continued to feed (ACT), or were induced to hibernate (HIB). Mucosal wet weights were reduced in jejunal segments that had little or no exposure to the luminal stream (all segments from HIB and bypassed segments from ACT) compared with segments in contact with luminal contents (sham and in continuity segments of ACT). Tissue conductances were greater in those segments not exposed to luminal contents. Short-circuit current (Isc) responses to electrical stimulation of submucosal neurons, or to serosal carbachol, were greater in segments not exposed to luminal contents when responses were normalized to serosal surface area. Normalization of secretory responses to crypt area produced a similar pattern. Isc responses to mucosal alanine, which reflect electrogenic Na+ absorption, were greatest in segments with little or no exposure to luminal contents. Tissue wet weights, conductances and secretory responses of bypassed segments of HIB and ACT squirrels were always similar. These results suggest that luminal contents directly influence jejunal secretory capacity.