To evaluate the involvement of IL-1 on bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and erythroid (BFU-E and CFU-E) progenitor cell regeneration during the recovery of hematopoiesis after sublethal irradiation of CBA mice, we examined the effects of IL-1 receptor blockade by recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (rhIL-1ra). The actual number of progenitors and proportion of these cells in S phase of the cell cycle were determined in regenerating bone marrow cells obtained 3 days after 2 Gy irradiation both following the in vivo administration of rhIL-1ra, as well as after the in vitro preincubation with increasing amounts of rhIL-1ra. The results revealed that rhIL-1ra decreased the number and the proportion of CFU-GM in the S phase in regenerating bone marrow. As concerning erythroid progenitors, rhIL-1ra treatment suppressed BFU-E and enhanced CFU-E-derived colony growth, indicating that the biological effects of IL-1 might be different depending on the stage of differentiation. The observed effects pointed to the importance of the basal levels of IL-1, as well as IL-1 receptor expression during the recovery of hematopoiesis.