Objective To elucidate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in mediating the effects of electrical stimulation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on apoptosis and proliferation induced by gastric ischaemia-reperfusion injury (GI/RI).Methods To investigate the effects of electrical stimulation of the hypothalamic PVN on gastric mucosal apoptosis and proliferation in response to ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R),we used a GI/RI model by clamping the coeliac artery for 30 min and then reperfusing the artery for 0.5,1,3 or 6 h.We used immunohistochemistry and western blotting to investigate the expression,activation and distribution of ERKs and the dynamic changes in their downstream cellular factors Bcl-2 and Bax at different times subsequent to electrical stimulation of the PVN in the I/R-injured gastric mucosa.