We compared effects of a critical neonatal anoxia, applied in Wistar rats at body temperatures of 33, 37 and 39 degrees C, on memory performance in adulthood. Because hyperthermic-anoxic neonates suffer from hyperferremia an additional group of rats, exposed to anoxia at 39 degrees C, was injected with deferoxamine, a chelator of iron. At the age of 4 and 12 months all rats were examined in hole board, typical maze and Morris maze. The memory was disturbed by neonatal anoxia at 39 degrees C. The disturbances were prevented by both the naturally reduced body temperature and by deferoxamine. In conclusion, neonatal hyperthermia induces iron-mediated, extremely delayed postanoxic cognitive disturbances in adulthood. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.