In the brain, L-kynurenine is an intermediate for the formation of kynurenic acid, a metabolite with neuroprotective activities, and a substrate for the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-kynurenine, a metabolite with neurotoxic properties. In the present study, alterations of L-kynurenine, 3-hydroxy-kynurenine and kynurenic acid levels were examined in the brain of neonatal (10 minutes old) rats after 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes of asphyxia, and in the brain of the corresponding caesarean-delivered controls, using sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic methods. Among kynurenines we found a marked time-dependent increase of kynurenic acid levels, a moderately delayed increase of 3-hydroxy-kynurenine, and a trend for a decrease of L-kynurenine content. Thus, the brain reacted rapidly to the oxygen deficit by increasing kynurenic acid levels by 44% already after 5 minutes of asphyxia, and the most prominent elevation of kynurenic acid (302% of control) was found after 20 minutes of asphyxia--the critical time limit of survival.