Dopamine (DA) containing fibers and neurons are embedded within the brainstem dorsal vagal complex (DVC); we have shown previously that DA modulates the membrane properties of neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) via DA1 and DA2 receptors. The vagally-dependent modulation of gastric tone and phasic contractions, i.e. motility, by DA, however, has not been characterized. Using microinjections of DA in the DVC while recording gastric tone and motility, the aims of the present study were: i) assess the gastric effects of brainstem DA application, ii) identify the DA receptor subtype, and, iii) identify the postganglionic pathway(s) activated. Dopamine microinjection in the DVC decreased gastric tone and motility in both corpus and antrum in 29 of 34 rats, the effects were abolished by ipsilateral vagotomy and fourth ventricular treatment with the selective DA2 receptor antagonist L741,626, but not by application of the selective DA1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390. Systemic administration of the cholinergic antagonist atropine attenuated the inhibition of corpus and antrum tone in response to DA microinjection in the DVC. Conversely, systemic administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME did not alter the DA-induced decrease in gastric tone and motility. Our data provide evidence of a dopaminergic modulation of a brainstem vagal neurocircuit that controls gastric tone and motility.