The concentration of lipid peroxidation was extensively high in rat fetuses and early newborns. However, it declined sharply thereafter. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was approximately 10% of the adult level during 5 days postpartum. The enzyme activity began to increase after the 10th day to 60% of the adult level at the 20th day. Catalase activity was low in the fetal period, corresponding to approximately 20% of the adult level, but increased rapidly after birth reaching approximately 50% of the adult level at 5-7 days postpartum. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was measured to amount to only 7% of the adult level in the fetal and early newborn period. The level of this activity was approximately 20% of the adult level at the 20th day. The difference in GSH-Px activity became wide between sexes after the first 30 days of life; the male adult level was 61% of the female adult level. The concentration of vitamin E was low in the fetus. It increased by a factor of 10 times within a few days after birth, and thereafter it decreased gradually. Fetal and early newborn livers have low enzymatic defense capabilities against possible deleterious effects of lipid peroxidation processes.