Axon ramification following unilateral cortical ablation in neonatal rats

We confirmed the formation of an aberrant ipsilateral corticospinal tract after unilateral cerebral cortical ablation during the neonatal period in rat. This tract was studied using anterograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracing. Ramifications of the axons in the pyramidal tract were found to contribute to the ipsilateral tract at the level of the pyramidal decussation, suggesting that ramification of immature axons play an important role in the formation of the ipsilateral corticospinal tract.