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Neural Organoids

Neural organoids are three-dimensional (3D) in vitro culture systems derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). They self-organize into structures that recapitulate select cellular, molecular, and cytoarchitectural features of the developing human nervous system. These neural organoids provide a more physiologically relevant in vitro system than traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures for studying human neurodevelopment, disease mechanisms, and perturbations. They have important applications in studying:

  • Human brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders, like autism
  • Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
  • Epilepsy and related seizure disorders
  • Neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia
  • Motor neuron diseases, notably amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

We've curated these resources to support your work with neural organoids, and to give you a glimpse into how these 3D neural models are being used by scientists in the field of neuroscience.

Key Neural Organoid Publications

Neural Spheroids

Paşca AM et al. (2015) Nat Methods 12(7): 671–8.

Forebrain-Specific Organoids

Lancaster MA et al. (2017) Nature Biotechnology 35(7): 659–66.
Birey F et al. (2017) Nature 545(7652): 54–9.
Kadoshima T et al. (2013) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110(50): 20284–9.
Eiraku M et al. (2008) Cell Stem Cell 3(5): 519–32.

Pituitary-Specific Organoids

Suga H et al. (2011) Nature 480(7375): 57-62.

Hypothalamus-Specific Organoids

Wataya T et al. (2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105(33): 11796–801.

Cerebellum-Specific Organoids

Mariani J et al. (2015) Cell 162(2): 375–90.
Muguruma K et al. (2015) Cell Rep 10(4): 537–50.
Muguruma K et al. (2010) Nat Neurosci 13(10): 1171–80.

Midbrain-Specific Organoids

Jo J et al. (2015) Cell Stem Cell. 19(2): 248-57.

Retinal Spheroids

Zhu Y et al. (2013) PLoS One 8(1): e54552.
Eiraku M et al. (2008) Cell Stem Cell 3(5): 519–32.

Whole-Brain Organoids

Lancaster MA and JA Knoblich. (2014) Nat Protoc 9(10):2329-40.
Lancaster MA et al. (2014) Science 345(6194): 1247125.
Lancaster MA et al. (2013) Nature 501(1): 373–9.

Zika Virus

Watanabe M et al. (2017) Cell Reports 21(2): 517–32.
Gabriel E et al. (2017) Cell Stem Cell 20(3): 397-406.
Cugola FR et al. (2016) Nature 534(7606): 267–71.
Dang J et al. (2016) Cell Stem Cell 19(2): 258–65.
Garcez PP et al. (2016) Science 352(6287): 816–8.
Qian X et al. (2016) Cell 165(5): 1238–54.
Lancaster MA et al. (2013) Nature 501(1): 373–9.

Autism

Mariani J et al. (2015) Cell 162(2): 375–90.

Other

Karzbrun E et al. (2018) Nature Physics 14(5): 515-22.
Quadrato G et al. (2017) Nature 545(7652): 48-53.