To compare the effect of immediate and delayed administration of oxygen on the accumulation of free radicals in ischemia-reperfusion animal models. Thirty-two adult male Mongolian gerbils with microdialysis probes implanted in the right hippocampal CA1 were divided randomly into four groups (eight each). One group was sham-operated (Sham group) whereas the other three groups were subjected to 10 min bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO). BCAO-treated animals were then subjected to the following: (a) immediate 30% O2 (near normoxia, NO group), (b) immediate 100% O2 (hyperoxia, HO group), and (c) 30% O2 for 60 min, followed by 100% O2 for 60 min (delayed hyperoxia, DHO group). Hippocampal accumulation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) during reperfusion was estimated by measuring 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) and 2,5-DHBA in microdialysis perfusate. Hippocampi were removed 2 h after perfusion to measure malondialdehyde, pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, indices of lipid peroxidation, and cellular respiration. At 24 h after BCAO, the histology of hippocampi was analyzed to rate the injury. Immediately after the onset of reperfusion, all groups showed markedly elevated DHBA, which returned to baseline over 1-2 h. Compared with the NO group, the HO group showed significantly higher peak DHBA and slower recovery. In contrast, the DHO group was not significantly different from the NO group in terms of the DHBA level. DHO animals also showed significantly lower hippocampal malondialdehyde accumulation and higher pyruvate dehydrogenase activity at 2 h after reperfusion versus the HO group. Histology analysis also showed animals in the DHO group with ameliorated injury compared with the HO group. Hydroxyl radical accumulation was more sensitive to O2 during early reperfusion. Delayed hyperoxia may re-establish oxidative metabolism while minimizing oxidative stress after CA.