Sympathetic preganglionic neurones (SPN) projecting to the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and adrenal medulla (AM) in the neonate (< 14 days) and SCG, stellate ganglion (SG) and AM in the adult rat (> 3 months) were retrogradely labelled with cholera B horseradish peroxidase (CBHRP). Labelled neurones were found in 4 four distinct nuclei: the nucleus intermediolateralis thoracolumbalis pars principalis (ILp), a nucleus equivalent to the intemediolateral cell column (IML); the nucleus intermediolateralis thoracolumbalis pars funicularis (ILf); the nucleus intercalatus spinalis (IC) and the nucleus intercalatus pars paraependymatis (ICpe) or central autonomic area (CA). These were represented to a similar extent in both neonate and adult. Neonate and adult SCG, SG and AM-SPN had a similar segmental distribution cervical 8 (C8) to thoracic 5 (T5) for SCG-SPN and thoracic 3 (T3) to thoracic (T13) for AM-SPN whereas adult SG-SPN were distributed over segments C8 to T9. Most labelled neurones (70%) were located in the ILp with one segment containing the highest proportion of SPN. Three morphologically distinct neurones were evident. Fusiform and roundbodied were the most common. Fusiform somata of the ILp were orientated both mediolaterally and rostrocaudally in the neonate but only rostrocaudally in the adult. Dendrites of the SPN in the adult and neonate extended in a dense rostrocaudal band along the ILp, more diffusely into the white matter of the Ilf and in bundles medially towards the central canal (CC). The neonate showed some significant differences. In the ILp, the cell bodies were less tightly packed into a narrow band and into clusters and the dendrites were more diffuse. It was concluded that at 12 days postnatally the organisation of the sympathetic nuclei had still nor reached the adult form. However, there is no extensive realignment of dendrites in the adult so the ILp remains an 'open' nucleus like the neonate.