Abstract: Objective: To clarify the role of IL-6 in the development of stress-induced gastric ulcers. Methods: The expression of IL-6 on brain tissues and gastric mucosa in rats under water-immersion restrain stress were detected by the method of Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: The expression of IL-6 was found in gastric mucolsal and the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus in rats after stress. The longer the rat exposed to stress condision;the higer IL-6 expressed and the more severe the gastric ulcers. Conclution:IL-6 may affect stress-induced gastric ulcers by acting on the brain to elicit neuroendocrine,metabolic changes.