Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is known to be a hypoglycemic cytokine, but its mechanism of action is still unknown. Since the blood glucose levels depend on the amount of glucose entering and leaving the circulation, this work was conducted to test the hypothesis that the hypoglycemia observed with IL-1beta might result, at least partially, from a reduced intestinal glucose absorption. Male Sprague Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with IL-1beta, and a jejunal segment was perfused with [14C] 3-O-methylglucose for 5, 15, 25 and 40 min. Our results showed that IL-1beta significantly inhibited the mucosal uptake of this hexose and reduced its intestinal retention. The time course and the dose response effect for this cytokine were also determined. Studies on the effect of IL-1beta on the activity of the intestinal Na+-K+ ATPase demonstrated a significant inhibition of the pump. The effect of IL-1beta on the hexose transport across the brush border membrane may thus be attributed to its inhibitory effect on the Na+-K+ ATPase.