Ontogenetic development of septal nuclei in the rat.

Prenatal development of septal cell groups was studied in the rat on samples taken daily from the 14th day of gestation until birth. Coronal serial sections of brains were prepared in which the topography coordinates of septal nuclei were determined, their section profiles measured and their volumes calculated. The rat septum begins to develop on embryonic days 14-15. First the individual neurons start to differentiate, then cell groups characteristic for the adult are formed between days 14 and 17, which is followed by the delineation of nuclei. The only exception is the anterior subdivision of the lateral septal nucleus where the formation of the nucleus precedes the differentiation of its constituent cells. The individual nuclei start to develop at different times defined by a medio-lateral gradient of cell migration. By embryonic day 20 the formation of the nuclei can be considered as complete: all septal nuclei and their subdivisions are to be recognized and distinguished from each other.