In unstressed, normoglycaemic fetal lambs, the liver produces little glucose, and gluconeogenesis is insignificant. Indirect measurements have suggested that the fetus may produce glucose endogenously during hypoglycaemia induced by prolonged maternal starvation. In eight fetal lambs we directly measured total and radiolabelled substrate concentration differences across the liver to determine whether the fetal liver produces glucose after four days of fasting-induced hypoglycaemia. Simultaneously we measured umbilical glucose uptake and fetal glucose utilization. Glucose concentrations in ewes (1.78 +/- 0.44 mmol.-1) and fetuses (0.61 +/- 0.17 mmol.l-1) were decreased. Fetal glucose utilization rate (21.7 +/- 8.9 mumol.min-1.kg-1) was not significantly different from umbilical glucose uptake (17.2 +/- 8.9 mumol.min-1.kg-1). Hepatic glucose production (8.9 +/- 17.2 mumol.min-1.100 g-1) and gluconeogenesis (6.1 +/- 4.4 mumol.min-1.100 g-1) were present, but could account for only 13% and 8% of fetal glucose requirements, respectively. To determine whether glucose output by the fetal liver was limited by substrate availability, we infused lactate, acetate, and acetone into the umbilical veins of four fasted animals, increasing hepatic substrate delivery. Hepatic glucose output did not increase during infusion of gluconeogenic substrates, indicating that substrate availability did not limit gluconeogenesis. We conclude that the gluconeogenic pathway is intact in late-gestation fetal lambs and that the fetal liver is capable of gluconeogenesis. However, the primary change in fetal metabolism during maternal starvation is the reduction in fetal glucose utilization, obviating the need for substantial hepatic glucose production. The factors stimulating this modest increase in fetal hepatic glucose production remain to be elucidated.