Exposure of immature rats to lead acetate results in hemorrhagic encephalopathy of variable evolution. As the maintenance of adequate protection against peroxides may be critical in this condition, the activities of selenium-glutathione peroxidase and catalase in cerebrum and cerebellum of suckling rats poisoned with lead acetate were studied from day six to day sixteen post-exposure. Age-related decreases of glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in both controls and lead poisoned animals were observed. An increase in catalase activity was observed in cerebrum and cerebellum of lead-treated rats compared to controls. Glutathione peroxidase activity did not change significantly in cerebrum over the period studied. By contrast, glutathione peroxidase activity in cerebellum of lead-treated rats remained at about twice the control level over most of the study period. This apparent increase in glutathione peroxidase activity may be due either to a slower ontogenic decrease of its specific activity or to enzyme induction in response to oxidant stress in cerebellum.