Carbohydrates are a component of chyme that initiate feedback control of gastric emptying. The aim of the study was to investigate the mechanism by which sensors in the intestine are activated by carbohydrate to initiate intestinal feedback of gastric motor function. Intestinal perfusion with D-glucose inhibited gastric motility in awake rats. This response was reproduced by 3-O-methyl glucose, a non-metabolizable analogue of glucose that is absorbed by the Na(+)-glucose co-transporter, but not by 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and was attenuated by perfusion of the intestine with phloridzin, a competitive blocker of the Na(+)-glucose co-transporter. Feeding a high carbohydrate diet to increase the number of co-transporters reduced the response to intestinal glucose. It was concluded that activation of sensors to initiate feedback inhibition of gastric motility may be dependent either on rapid accumulation of glucose within epithelial cells or on activation of the Na(+)-glucose co-transporter.