Diabetic gastroenteropathy developed in about 70% of the rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin. These rats were associated with diarrhea, gastric paresis, and small intestinal stasis. About 30% of the rats with diabetic gastroenteropathy had narrowed and contracted segments of the lower esophagus and 70% of the colon of the rats showed dilated and contracted segments. Changes in the distribution of VIP-like immunoreactivities in nerve plexuses of the gastrointestinal wall which were observed with destruction of the autonomic nerves (both submucosal and myenteric plexuses) could be one of the plausible causes of diabetic gastroenteropathy induced by streptozotocin, although the precise mechanism of the development of diabetic gastroenteropathy in rats remains obscure.