<正>Objective:To investigate the distribution of the motilin receptor in the amygdala of rats and its role in regulating the duodenal migrating myoelectric complex（MMC）.Methods:The distribution of motilin receptor in the amygdala in adult SD rats was detected by immunohistochemistry methods

and the duodenal interdigestive MMC was recorded via the electrodes implanted in the duodenum and analyzed us- ing a multichannel recorder.Results:Motilin receptor was observed in the amygdala of rats.The great amount of motilin receptor was found in the medial amygdaloid nucleus

which was also abundant in the basolateral nucleus but less abundant in the basomedial amygdaloid nucleus

the central amygdaloid nucle- us and the lateral amygdaloid nucleus.The shortening of the duodenal MMC cycle duration and the in- crease of the amplitude and the frequency of phase $ were recorded after motilin receptors being bound with exogenous motilin in the amygdala.The effects could be completely blocked by the subdiaphragmatic vagotomy but not by the intravenous injections of atropine

phentolamine or propranolol.Anti-motilin serum could partially block these effects

and the destruction of the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala had no significant effects on the duodenal MMC.Conclusion:Motilin receptor is present in all the subnu- clei of the amygdala

with the greatest amount of motilin receptor present in the medial amygdaloid nucle- us.Microinjections of motilin in the amygdala can shorten the duodenal MMC cycle duration and increase the amplitude and the frequency of phaseⅢ.These effects might be accomplished via the amygdala-hy- pothalamus-brainstem-vagus pathway

indicating the important role of the amygdala motilin receptor in the duodenal MMC regulation.