Effects of various histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2-RA) on gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying were investigated. Ranitidine, nizatidine and cimetidine dose dependently induced contractions over the entire gastrointestinal tract, and the order of their effects was ranitidine > nizatidine > cimetidine. Roxatidine or famotidine had no effects on motility of the gastrointestinal tract. Ranitidine and nizatidine also induced contractions during the postprandial period and facilitated gastric emptying, while cimetidine, roxatidine or famotidine did not influence gastric emptying. Since acid reduction is thought to be the most important element of the treatment of peptic ulcer and reflux esophagitis, it was inferred that administration of a H2-RA selected with consideration of its property of facilitating gastrointestinal motility is effective in the treatment of patients with abnormal gastrointestinal motility.