We have studied various aspects of whole-body energy metabolism during chronic endotoxin infusion in the rat. In particular, we studied free fatty acid kinetics using bolus injections of 14C-palmitate. The general response to 7 days of chronic endotoxin infusion could be divided into an initial 3- to 4-day period of illness with loss of appetite, followed by rapid recovery. Using saline-infused, pair-fed controls, the following observations were made throughout the 7-day period of endotoxin i...