Tylenol tales: A new paper reports that exposing cortical organoids to acetaminophen at a stage that models late first-trimester development does not affect organoid size, cytoarchitecture, viability, synaptic puncta density or the proportions of neuronal and progenitor cells. Whereas some transcriptional changes occurred at the highest dose, there were no detectable changes in gene expression […]
Two roads diverge: Human brain organoids missing the gene TSC2 have overreactive astrocytes that are similar to those found in tubers from people with tuberous sclerosis complex, according to a new study. The findings substantiate the idea that glial pathology results from altered protein expression and activity—specifically, high mTORC1 signaling—rather than from seizures themselves. “These […]
A simple protocol produces organoids that display molecular features of the front or rear of the human cortex, according to a new study. The technique could provide better cell-based models of autism and other neurological conditions that involve region-specific changes, the study suggests. Briefly exposing neocortical organoids to signaling molecules called morphogens prompts them to […]
T he researchers successfully transplanted the human organoids into 25 out of 29 newborn engineered mice. The human-derived tissue proliferated, taking over the space and growing 4.7-fold between two and three months after transplantation. The grafts integrated into the mouse nervous system, and the mice performed similarly to wildtype controls on motor, learning and social […]
Different genetic variants associated with autism converge on common biological processes that shape the developing brain, according to a large study of organoids derived from autistic people’s cells. Individual variants initially alter neurodevelopment in distinct ways, but over time they all disrupt neuron maturation and other key processes, the study shows. Previous work, including postmortem […]
Early overgrowth: In their first few weeks of development, organoids with two intact copies of CHD8 (top) developed excitatory neurons more slowly than organoids missing a copy of the gene (bottom). Editor’s Note This article was originally published 11 January 2021, based on preliminary findings presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting. The results […]
Subdued response: Organoids with microglia (bottom) show a lower interferon response (red) than organoids without microglia (top), suggesting that these immune cells help reduce cell stress. Adding non-neural brain cells called microglia to cortical organoids speeds up the rate of maturation of their neurons, increases the synchronization of their firing, and appears to reduce cellular […]
