Food intake and body temperature are two of many factors affected by IL-1 beta, a cytokine which is produced in response to tissue injury and inflammatory processes. In the present experiment, a tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist which blocked IL-1 beta-induced hyperalgesia was tested for the ability to block IL-1 beta-induced effects on food intake and body temperature. Food intake was decreased 4-22 h after intraperitoneal (IP) administration of 1.25, 1.88, or 2.50 micrograms IL-1 beta/rat, and 0-22 h food intake was decreased by 1.88 and 2.50 micrograms IL-1 beta/rat. The effect of 1.25 micrograms IL-1 beta/rat on food intake measured 4 and 22 h after (IP) injection was blocked by coadministration of 5 mg tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist. However, 25 mg tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist/rat plus 1.25 micrograms IL-1 beta/rat decreased 0-22 h food intake more than IL-1 beta alone. Administration (IP) of 1.25 micrograms IL-1 beta/rat increased body temperature 1 degrees C 4 h later, and 5 and 25 mg tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist/rat blocked this increase. Although food intake remained decreased after IL-1 beta administration alone or with 25 mg tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist/rat for 22 h, body temperature returned to normal under these conditions. Thus, a tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist shown to block IL-1 beta-induced hyperalgesia also blocked food intake and body temperature responses to IL-1 beta, although the effective doses of IL-1 beta and the tripeptide IL-1 beta antagonist differ by 4,000-fold when both are administered peripherally.