INTRODUCTION5-Hydroxytryptamine-3 (5-HT 3 ) receptor antagonists have been found to be potent anti-emetic drugs for chemotherapy-or radiation-induced nausea and vomiting.1±4 So far, four selective 5-HT 3 receptor antagonists (ondansetron, formerly GR 38032F; tropisetron, formerly ICS 205-930; granisetron, formerly BRL 43694; and dolasetron, formerly MDL 73147EF), with comparable clinical ef®cacy, are commercially available for these indications. The mechanism of the anti-emetic effect is not fully understood. 4 It is ascribed in part to central effects on the 5-HT 3 receptors in the area postrema, where the chemoreceptor trigger zone is located, with neural connections to the vomiting centre, but also in part to the peripheral action on 5-HT 3 receptors of afferent vagal ®bres in the stomach and small bowel.4±8 It has been suggested that the anti-emetic effect of 5-HT 3 may not only be due to suppression of nausea and the vomiting re¯ex, but also to direct or indirect effects on gastric motility. Although evidence for this latter assumption has been found in several animal SUMMARY Background: In previous studies, tropisetron has been shown to accelerate gastric emptying of a solid meal. However, it is uncertain whether other speci®c 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron, also have a gastroprokinetic effect in humans. Aim: To evaluate the effect of ondansetron on gastric half-emptying time (T 1/2 ) of a solid meal, gastric myoelectrical activity and hormone levels in 14 healthy volunteers. Methods: In a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study, we investigated the effects of ondansetron (8 mg intravenously) on the gastric emptying of solids (by scintigraphy), gastric myoelectrical activity (by