Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities and thiobarbituric acid-reactive products were assayed in the superficial pectoral muscles of genetically dystrophic chickens (line 413) and their controls (line 412) 1, 2, and 4 weeks, and 4 months after hatching. In control chickens, all these enzyme activities declined as they grew older. In dystrophic chickens, all these enzyme activities were significantly elevated at all stages of development studied, and their developmental time courses were quite different from those in the controls. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive products were also significantly elevated in dystrophic chickens after 2 weeks of age. Invasion of macrophages and lipid cells were not manifest until 4 weeks after hatching in the dystrophic chickens studied. Therefore, observed abnormalities were considered to represent biochemical pathologies within muscle cells. Increased activities of the enzymes which are responsible for the regulation of active oxygen species and the elevated thiobarbituric acid-reactive products would indicate the presence of increased turnover of those active oxygen species. These findings indicated that active oxygen species were playing a significant role in the pathogenesis of muscular dystrophies. The possible mechanisms of cellular damage by active oxygen species are discussed.