We investigated the role of the vagi in modulation of colonic motor activity in the fasted and fed states and determined the extent of vagal influence on colon motility in conscious monkeys. Monkeys were implanted with force transducers on the colon. A vagal cooling chamber was implanted supradiaphragmatically, and a vagal stimulating electrode was implanted just distal to the chamber. One week was allowed for recovery. After an overnight fast, control recordings were made for 1 h, and then the monkeys were either fed or remained fasting, with or without adrenergic blockade (propranolol and phentolamine). Then while recordings continued the vagi were cooled to their predetermined denervation temperature for 1 h. In a second set of experiments, adrenergic blockers were injected, and the vagi were stimulated during vagal cooling with or without atropine administration. In both the fasted and fed states, the contractile frequency was decreased during vagal cooling, with or without adrenergic blockade. With adrenergic blockade, however, the frequency of colon contractions was greater during cooling than during cooling without such blockade. Inhibition of colonic contractions during cooling decreased in magnitude from the proximal to the distal colon. Vagal efferent stimulation increased contractile frequency at all sites, but after atropine it decreased contractile frequency. We conclude that the vagi have either a direct or indirect influence on fasting and fed colonic motor activity throughout the colon, and that a nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory pathway is under vagal control.