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Diabetes produced spontaneously in the BB rat is similar to that observed in multiple low dose streptozocin-induced diabetes, both being characterized histologically by a lympho-monocytic infiltrate in the pancreatic islets (insulitis). Recent studies indicated that streptozocin acts through peroxidative patterns sensitive to superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. We therefore conducted a time-course study to evaluate if SOD activity in the islets of Langerhans is related to the onset of diabetes in BB rats with varying degree of diabetes. It was found that SOD activity does not change with age nor with the onset of diabetes. However SOD activity in the islets of BB rats was significantly lower than in the control Wistars. This lower SOD activity may be a proneness factor that favors the development of the diabetic syndrome.