Abstract: AIM To explore the effects of interleukin(IL)-1β on collagen gel contraction induced by argipressin (AVP) in cardiac fibroblasts (CF). METHODS Using trypsin separate and culture cardiac fibroblasts (CF) of SD neonatal rats, we set up a three-dimensional culture system of CF and collagen gel. RESULTS With the pretreatment with IL-1β (50~400 kU/L) in CF, the collagen gel contraction index decreased with the increasing concentration of IL-1β, and the index in each test group was significantly lower than that in control (P<0.01). The collagen gel contraction index of pretreatment with AVP was significantly higher than that in control (P<0.01) whereas the index of pretreatment with IL-1β was significantly lower than that in control (P<0.01). Following simultaneous pretreatment with AVP and IL-1β, the index was between those of the two groups, with significant difference between AVP or IL-1β (P<0.01). CONCLUSION IL-1β inhibits collagen gel contraction in basic condition and antagonizes the effects of AVP on collagen gel contraction.