The effect of alloxan-induced diabetes on CuZn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, as well as the content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) were examined in rat lymphoid organs (mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), thymus and spleen) and, for comparison, red and white muscle fibres. The capacity for generation of reduced equivalents was also evaluated by measuring the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (pentose-phosphate pathway-cytosol) and citrate synthase (Krebs cycle-mitochondria). Diabetes raised the capacity for the generation of reducing equivalents in the lymphoid organs: in the mitochondria of the thymus and spleen and in the cytosol of the mesenteric lymph nodes and thymus. In muscles, diabetes reduced CuZn-SOD activity in soleus and raised the activity in gastrocnemius, and depressed the activities of catalase in soleus and of glutathione peroxidase in both soleus and gastrocnemius. In relation to the lymphoid organs, the spleen showed a decrease in the antioxidant enzyme activities (except for glutathione peroxidase), whereas the thymus showed an increased level (except for Mn-SOD), and the MLN presented a reduction in Mn-SOD and catalase activities and an increase in GPX activity caused by diabetes. The content of TBARs in the tissues followed the changes in GPX activity inversely: i.e. a decrease in the lymphoid organs (except in the spleen) and an increase in the muscles of diabetic rats compared with the control group. All these changes found in diabetic rats were reversed by insulin treatment and were not modified by the normalization of glycaemia.