This edition provides an update on the latest findings onthe development ofthe rat spinal cord. The expression pat-terns of several morphoregulators were investigated usingimmuno-/histochemistry and are discussed in relationto theknown anatomy of the spinal cord. The embryonal developmentof different fiber systems was studied using a newly develo-ped intrauterine tracing technique. In a multidisciplinaryeffort the different studies were integrated and new ideason the developmental events in the rat spinal cord discus-sed.