The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), glutathione reductase (GSSG-rx) and glutathione transferase (GST) were measured in myocardial specimens obtained from right atria of patients subjected to different period of ischaemic arrest (aortic clamping ranging from 10 min to 90 min) followed by 60 min. of reperfusion, during open heart surgery 41-90 min. period of aortic clamping induced a significant increase of GSH-px activity with both H2O2 (p less than 0.05) and cumene hydroperoxide (p less than 0.025) as substrates when compared with baseline levels. Aortic clamping and reperfusion, however did not significantly change the myocardial activities of glutathione transferase and glutathione reductase. It is suggested that the increase of GSH-px in ischaemic-reperfused human hearts may render the myocardium less susceptible to oxidative attack particularly during the reoxygenation period when the level of active oxygen species is greatly elevated.