To evaluate the physiological significance of xanthine oxidase (XO) in rat skin, the activity of XO (type O) in skin was compared with that of small intestine or liver. Concomitantly, XO activities in some partial portions (scalp, leg, dorsal and ventral part) of skin were determined and then compared with each partial portion. XO activity of skin was lower than that of small intestine and rather higher than that of liver. Furthermore, the activity of XO in skin, after clipping of hairs and then in 5 days, was more increased than that of rat which was clipped before having been sacrificed. As for activities of free radical scavenging system (GPx, GST, SOD), skin is lower than liver and small intestine. Although it is hewn that the oxygen free radical generated by XO system lead to injurious effect on the cell, the XO activity of ventral part which is to be less exposed to xenobiotics and biological agents was the lowest among those of ventral, dorsal, leg and scalp parts in skin. In conclusion, it may be hypothesized that XO system in skin act on defence mechanism.