Fever was induced in rabbits by i.v. administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or administration of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) into the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT). Intra-OVLT injection of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-lra), 1 h before LPS or IL-1 beta injection, inhibited the LPS- or IL-1 beta-induced fever. Dexamethasone (a potent inhibitor of the transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase, iNOS), L-N5-(1-iminoethyl)ornithine (an irreversible NOS inhibitor), aminoguanidine (a specific iNOS inhibitor), or indomethacin (an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase, COX) also inhibited IL-1 beta-induced fever when injected into the OVLT 1 h before IL-1 beta injection. These results suggest that iNOS or COX pathways in the OVLT mediate the IL-1 beta-induced fever in rabbits.