Maturation of rat visual cortex: IV. The generation, migration, morphogenesis, and connectivity of atypically oriented pyramidal neurons

The generation, migration, and morphogenesis of atypically oriented pyramidal neurons in the rat visual cortex were examined. In the mature cortex, these neurons were distributed through layers II–VI. Moreover, the atypically oriented pyramidal neurons in a particular layer tended to be oriented in a specific way; atypically oriented pyramidal neurons in layer II, layers III–VIa, and layer VIb were obliquely, radially, and obliquely oriented, respectively. Ultrastructurally, the somata of atypically oriented pyramidal neurons contained large euchromatic ovoid nuclei and cytoplasm that was replete with rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. These somata formed only symmetric axosomatic synapses. Many atypically oriented pyramidal neurons projected axons into the white matter as demonstrated by a Golgi method and by a retrograde tract‐tracing technique; however, some of these pyramidal neurons in layers III–V had axons that ascended to layer I.

By using a technique which combined retrograde tract tracing with [³H]thymidine autoradiography, it was determined that most atypically oriented pyramidal neurons in layers V and VIa, layer IV, and layer II were generated on gestational days (GD) 15–17, GD 17–19, and GD 20–21, respectively. Atypically oriented pyramidal neurons were identified during the period from postnatal day 0 (day of birth) to day 30. On day 0, obliquely oriented pyramidal neurons were distributed in the deep cortical plate, i.e., immature layer VI. On day 3, the youngest atypically oriented pyramidal neurons were radially oriented and were located in layer IV. Some obliquely oriented pyramidal neurons were present in layer II on day 6, but the greatest number and the most severely canted pyramidal neurons in layer II were evident on day 9. The orientations of the cell body and the apical dendrite did not change appreciably after migration was complete, except for those in layers V and VI with obliquely oriented cell bodies and radially oriented apical dendrites. The second and third postnatal weeks were marked by substantial morphological differentiation of all pyramidal neurons as noted by the lengthening and branching of dendrites and by the appearance of dendritic spines. By the fourth postnatal week, atypically oriented pyramidal neurons achieved their mature morphology.

The generation, migration, and morphogenesis of atypically oriented pyramidal neurons proceed by an inside‐to‐outside sequence. This development is similar and concurrent with that of typically oriented pyramidal neurons.