Three prepubertal gilts were each given 100 mg of endotoxin (ET) in their ordinary feed rations, twice daily for 6 days; 3 other gilts received standard feed. Following ET feeding, all animals were injected intravenously (i.v.) with ET (1.0 microgram/kg b.w.) once daily for 5 days. Blood samples were collected and analysed for hematology and total serum bile acids (S-BA), glutamate dehydrogenase (S-GLDH), calcium (S-Ca), iron (S-Fe), zinc (S-Zn) and a blood plasma metabolite (15-ketodihydro-PGF2a; P-PG) of prostaglandin F2a. The animals showed no apparent clinical symptoms following ET-feeding, neither did the blood analyses reveal effects of oral ET. However, when iv ET injections were given, the ET-fed animals showed fewer clinical signs of endotoxemia following the 2nd to 5th injection. S-BA and S-GLDH increased markedly in the standard-fed group following the first injection, while the ET-fed animals showed a much smaller increase in S-BA and no change in S-GLDH on that day. The difference in response may be explained by a direct uptake of ET from the gastrointestinal tract in the ET-fed pigs, making them less sensitive to the injected ET.