The development of callosal and corticocortical innervation in the neocortex of the hamster

The development of cortical afferentation by callosal and ipsilateral corticocortical fibers was studied in hamsters by transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Elongation of callosal axons (and possibly also of corticocortical fibers) started a couple of days before birth and extended through the first postnatal days. After a "waiting" period of a few days, axons were seen innervating restricted target sectors of the cortex. The zones of origin of these projections were initially exuberant, but they were subsequently trimmed down to overlap with the corresponding terminal fields.