The effects of different dietary fatty acids on the hepatic glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci and glutathione related enzyme system were investigated in carcinogen treated rats. Weaning male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups and fed the diets of 15% corn(CO), perilla(PO), and sardine oil(SO), respectively. Hepatocellular carcinogenesis was initiated with diethylnitrosamine(DEN) and then fed the diet containing 0.02% 2-acetylaminofluorene(2-AAF) followed by 0.05% phenobarbital for 10 weeks. The hepatic tissues were homogenized and centrifugated to prepare microsomal and cytosolic fractions. The enzyme activities of hepatic glutathione S-transferase(GST), glutathione reductase(GR), and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) were determined from cytosolic fractions. The number of GST-P hyperplastic nodules was the highest in corn oil group at 6th week, the early stage of hyperplastic nodule formation. GST activities were increased significantly by carcinogens in all dietary groups after 6th wk. GR activities followed the same trend as GST activities. GPx activities were decreased by carcinogens in all dietary groups at 10th week. In this experiment, corn oil diet may have promotive effect on hyperplastic nodule formation during the early promotional stages of chemical carcinogenesis.