The expression of apelin and its receptors (APJ) in central autonomic networks suggests that apelin may regulate gastrointestinal motor functions. In rodents, central administration of apelin-13 has been shown to inhibit gastric emptying, however, the mechanisms involved remain to be determined. Using male adult Sprague-Dawley rats, the aims of the present study were i) to determine the expression of APJ receptor in DVC, ii) to assess the effects central application of apelin-13 into the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) on gastric tone and motility and iii) to investigate the neuronal pathways responsible for apelin-induced alterations. APJ receptor immunoreactivity was detected in gastric-projecting and choline acetyltransferase positive neurons of the DVC. Microinjection of apelin-13 into DVC decreased significantly gastric tone and motility in both corpus and antrum. The apelin-induced reduction in gastric tone and motility was prevented by surgical vagotomy or fourth ventricular application of the APJ receptor antagonist, F13A. Systemic administration of the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine, but not the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME, abolished the apelin-induced inhibitory responses. The present results indicate a central modulatory role of apelin in the vagal neuro-circuitry that controls gastric motor functions via withdrawal of the tonically active cholinergic pathway.