Table 2_Mapping prefrontal afferents along development.xlsx

Understanding the mechanisms underlying the formation and myelination of prefrontal afferents is essential for elucidating the emergence, maturation, and refinement of mPFC-dependent behaviors. However, despite extensive characterization of long-range projections to the mPFC in the adult brain, their developmental trajectories remain poorly understood.</p>Methods<p>In this study, we combine retrograde labeling, light-sheet imaging, and automated cell segmentation to quantitatively map afferent projections to the mPFC from neonatal stages to adulthood.</p>Results<p>We show that ipsi- and contralateral afferent densities undergo marked, region-specific developmental changes.

Quantitative laterality analysis revealed that many afferent pathways develop an increasing ipsilateral bias after neonatal age, arising through distinct combinations of ipsilateral and contralateral changes rather than a uniform loss of contralateral inputs. In addition, we identify region-specific developmental patterns, including increased projection densities from limbic regions during early adolescence and a progressive decline in inputs from the mediodorsal thalamus toward adulthood.