We demonstrate that stimulation with interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 prepares high-density B cells to enter the S phase more promptly in response to subsequent stimulation with anti-mu F(ab')2. The stimulatory effect of IL-1 and IL-6 is compared to the one described for IL-4. In contrast to IL-4, preculture in IL-1 and IL-6 does not induce an increase in cell volume or in expression of class II major histocompatibility complex antigens on resting B cells. Similarly, the expression of the p55 subunit of the IL-2 receptor and of the transferrin receptor was not detected on resting B cells stimulated with IL-1 and IL-6. However, the stimulatory effect of IL-1 and IL-6 is correlated with an increased expression of c-myc proto-oncogene mRNA in resting murine B cells.