The postnatal development of myelinated nerve fibres in the visual cortex of the cat: a stereological and electron microscopical investigation.

With the aid of stereological procedures the development of myelinated nerve fibres (MF) was quantitatively investigated in electron micrographs of the visual cortex from animals of different ages: 36 days-old, the age at which fibres first appear, through adulthood. A short description of tissue treatment, methods and qualitative results is given. The following quantitative results are presented: 1. Myelinization begins at about the 36th day postpartum and is not completed by the 164th day. At this time a lack of about 20% MF can be observed. 2. The average diameter of MF decreases from 1.3 mum to 0.8 mum from day 36 to adulthood. 3. The first MF appear near the border of the album. 4. Beginning with the 55th day, small MF arise in layer I, showing two periods of growth. 5. The maximum MF density in the region of layer IV corresponds to the strip of Baillarger. Other aspects of visual cortex development are dealt with in the Discussion. The following conclusions can be drawn: a) The growing of in- and output-MF is completed first. b) The development of the internal connecting systems in layers I and IV begins a little later and is completed by the 5th month. c) The MF in layers II and III appear after the 4th month. Kaes (1907) has also described a continuation of MF growth in man lasting into the twenties.