Dexamethasone delays development of the negative geotaxis reaction in the rat pups. Dexamethasone decreases locomotor activity of the rat pups in the novel environment. Mild anoxia attenuates early neurobehavioral alterations induced by dexamethasone. Dexamethasone but not anoxia upregulates active caspase-3 in the cortex and brainstem. Dexamethasone-induced upregulation of active caspase-3 is ameliorated by anoxia.