Toward the formation of neural circuits in human brain organoids

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2019 Dec:61:86-91. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2019.07.010. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Abstract

Because of the ability to recapitulate normal developmental processes, brain organoids derived from pluripotent stem cells are an important experimental resource to investigate the development and pathogenesis of human brains. Although brain organoids are used in research on diseases such as microcephaly, it has traditionally been difficult to analyze diseases that affect neuronal networks between distant brain regions, as effective brain organoids containing multiple brain regions with defined connectivity have yet to be established. In this review, we discuss strategies to construct such organoids and provide a review on recent progress on brain organoids.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / embryology*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Organoids / growth & development*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology