Neurogenesis in the rat primary olfactory cortex was examined with [3H]thymidine autoradiography. The experimental animals were the offspring of pregnant females given an injection of [3H]thymidine on two consecutive gestation days. Nine groups of embryos were exposed to [3H]thymidine on E13-E14, E14-E15....E21-E22, respectively. On P60, the percentage of labeled cells and the proportion of cells originating during 24 hr periods were quantified at selected anatomical levels of the anterior and posterior piriform cortex, dorsal lateral peduncular cortex, and posterior two-thirds of the ventral agranular insular cortex. Throughout most of the primary olfactory cortex, deep cells are generated earlier than superficial cells: the 'inside-out' pattern. Neurons in the anterior (prepiriform) cortex are located lateral to the caudal anterior olfactory nucleus and olfactory tubercle, and are generated mainly between E14 and E18 in a caudal (older) to rostral (younger) neurogenetic gradient. Neurons in the posterior (periamygdaloid) cortex are located lateral to the caudal olfactory tubercle and amygdala, and are generated mainly between E14 and E17 simultaneously along the rostrocaudal plane. Superficial cells in the piriform cortex have some additional neurogenetic gradients; ventromedial cells forming transition zones with either the olfactory tubercle or amygdala originate earlier than cells located dorsally and laterally. In the posterior piriform cortex, younger neurons are located at middle dorsoventral levels while older neurons lie above and below. Neurons in the dorsolateral peduncular cortex originate between E14 and E20 in a caudal to rostral gradient of neurogenesis; caudal parts also have a lateral to medial neurogenetic gradient. The most lateral part of the dorsolateral peduncular cortex is unique and does not have the typical 'inside-out' cortical neurogenetic gradient. Neurons in the ventral agranular insular cortex (area 13) originate mainly between E15 and E17 in combined caudal to rostral and ventral to dorsal neurogenetic gradients. The neurogenetic gradients in the primary olfactory cortex, along with patterns of neurogenesis throughout the olfactory projection field are related to the termination patterns of afferents from the main olfactory bulb.