Objective To investigate the effects of motilin on the voltage dependent potassium channel and L-type calcium channel currents in rat proximal colon smooth muscle cells (PCSM) and to explore its mechanism in increasing colonic motility.Methods PCSM were isolated by collagenase.The voltage dependent potassium channel transit outward current (IKA ) and delayed rectifier current (IKdr) and L-type calcium currents (ICa(L)) were measured by whole cell patch clamp technique.Groups were analyzed by paired t-test.Results There was no significant effect of motilin on IKA and IKdr.L-type calcium channel was dose-dependently activated by motilin from 0.5 × 105 mmol/L to 10.0 ×10-5 mmol/L.At 6 × 10-5 mmol/L motilin and under - 10,0 and 10 mV stimulating voltage,maximum current density increased by 154.61％,62.69％ and 21.02％ respectively and activation kinetics curve obviously left shifted.Half activation voltage decreased from (2.740±1.211) mV prior administration to ( - 25.290 ± 0.614) mV (t =8.534,P =0.007 ) and there was no significant difference in slope factor. Conclusions Motilin increases colonic smooth muscle contraction by promoting calcium influx. However the frequency of colonic smooth muscle contraction could not change with frequency of equilibrium potential and action potential of colonic smooth muscle.