The distribution of VIP-immunoreactive neurons in the visual cortex of adult rabbits and during postnatal development

In the adult rabbit, the majority of the VIP-immunoreactive neurons are distributed in layer II-III of the visual cortex. Labeled cells are also seen in layers VI, IV, V and occasionally in layer I. During postnatal development, we can see labeled neurons on the 2nd day of life, and in layers II-III-IV-V-VI on the 4th day. On the 7th day, these neurons reach a distribution typical in the adult animal. From the 2nd to the 10th day the number of VIP-neurons increases, and from the 10th day to maturity, there is a 15–20% loss in the number of labeled cells.