This study addresses whether elevated free fatty acids (FFA) contribute to the hepatic insulin resistance of pregnancy. We applied a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp with or without Intralipid plus heparin infusion in conscious virgin and pregnant rabbits after an 18-h fast coupled with chronic catheterization of the hepatic and portal veins and femoral artery. A primed constant infusion of [3-3H]glucose was used to determine glucose fluxes. Insulin was infused into a mesenteric vein for 140 min. In pregnant rabbits, basal net hepatic uptake of lactate was almost two times that of nonpregnant rabbits. During a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp there was a decline of approximately 65% in hepatic lactate uptake in nonpregnant rabbits at 80 min, whereas a similar decrease was observed only at 140 min in pregnant rabbits. This effect was blocked by lipid infusion. In the basal state the hepatic uptake of FFA was greater in pregnant than in nonpregnant animals. During the hyperinsulinemic clamp the hepatic uptake dropped by approximately 70 and approximately 30% in nonpregnant and pregnant females, respectively. Lipid infusion did not prevent the hepatic FFA uptake and hepatic ketone body output from decreasing. Hepatic glucose production was totally suppressed in the control period in nonpregnant animals but not during lipid infusion (approximately 65%). Hepatic glucose production was not significantly different between pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits during lipid infusion. Glucose utilization was markedly reduced in nonpregnant animals during lipid infusion to levels comparable with that in pregnant animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)