The effect of laser irradiation of rats combined with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) administration on the proteins oxidative modification and superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the mitochondrial fraction of the liver was investigated. Animals were irradiated with a 650 nm laser diode in the abdomen daily for 4 min at the distance of 10 cm from the skin surface. ω-3 PUFA were administered per os at a daily dose of 120 mg/kg of the body weight. Fatty acids in the fish oil were identified by gas chromatography. Animals were divided into five groups (12 animals in each group): I -intact rats (control); II -rats exposed to the daily laser irradiation for 7 or 14 days ; III -rats that received ω-3 PUFA two hours after irradiation; IV -rats that received ω-3 PUFA two hours before irradiation; V -rats that received ω-3 PUFA for 7 days before irradiation. The mitochondrial fraction of rat liver was obtained by differential centrifugation. The increase in the content of protein carbonyl derivatives and a decrease of protein thiol groups in the liver mitochondrial fraction were detected after seven-day laser irradiation of rats. As the duration of irradiation increases, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity was decreased, indicating a depletion of mitochondrial antioxidant reserves. No antioxidant effect was observed when ω-3 PUFA were administrated after laser irradiation and a slight antioxidant effect was shown when ω-3 PUFA were administrated two hours before irradiation. Preliminary seven-day administration ω-3 PUFA before laser irradiation was the most effective, as it reduced the level of protein carbonyl derivatives and O 2•--generation, increased proteins SH-groups content and antioxidant enzymes activity. K e y w o r d s: SH-groups, carbonyl derivatives, superoxide radical, laser irradiation, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, liver mitochondria, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity.