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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats

Restraint to Induce Stress in Mice and Rats

Published on: December 6, 2024

Sex difference in link between interleukin-6 and stress.

Ryan Jankord¹, James R Turk, James C Schadt

¹Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA. ryan.jankord@uc.edu

|May 19, 2007

Summary

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the brain

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Published on: July 15, 2025

Area of Science:

Neuroendocrinology
Neuroimmunology
Stress Physiology

Background:

Inflammation, mediated by cytokines like Interleukin-6 (IL-6), impacts neuroimmunoendocrine pathways.
The role of IL-6 within the brain, specifically the stalk median eminence (SME), in regulating the stress response remains unclear.
Previous findings localized IL-6 to the SME, adjacent to hypophyseal portal vessels, suggesting a potential direct role.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the direct involvement of IL-6 within the SME in stimulating ACTH secretion during acute stress.
To test the hypothesis that IL-6 in the SME directly influences the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis response to stress.

Main Methods:

Analysis of IL-6 content in the SME of female swine under acute stress conditions.
Measurement of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (pSTAT-3) in pituitary corticotrophs.
Quantification of plasma IL-6 and ACTH levels.

Main Results:

Acute stress led to decreased IL-6 content in the SME.
Increased pSTAT-3 in pituitary corticotrophs and elevated plasma IL-6 and ACTH were observed concurrently.
Female swine exhibited higher SME IL-6 content and a more pronounced HPA axis response to stress.

Conclusions:

IL-6 release from the SME is directly linked to ACTH secretion and HPA axis activation.
IL-6 in the SME plays an integral role in stress responsiveness.
A significant sex difference exists in the IL-6 mediated regulation of the HPA axis response to stress.