At d3 and d5, significant differences were found in the plasma IL-6 concentrations among the three groups (F = 6.07, P = 0.008; F = 3.90, P = 0.036), and the rats in the colitis and pair-fed groups had significantly higher IL-6 concentrations than those in the control group (P < 0.05) (Fig. 2). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and colitis.