Scientists successfully grow 'mini-brains' from stem cells

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Stem Cell Research Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 29 Aug 2013 - 2:00 PDT

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Scientists have successfully grown complex human brain tissue from stem cells using a new 3D culture system, according to a study published in the journal Nature.

Researchers from the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW) say the newly created tissue could be the start of developing model systems for the human brain.

The scientists began the research by using established human embryonic stem cell lines and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts. They identified growth conditions that helped the stem cells differentiate into a variety of brain tissues.

The researchers used "media" for neuronal induction and differentiation, which allowed them to avoid "patterning growth factor conditions." They say that these conditions are usually applied to generate particular cell identities from stem cells.

Dr. Jrgen Knoblich from the IMBA and lead study author explains the process:

"We modified an established approach to generate so-called neuroectoderm, a cell layer from which the nervous system derives. Fragments of this tissue were then maintained in a 3D-culture and embedded in droplets of a specific gel that provided a scaffold for complex tissue growth."

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Scientists successfully grow 'mini-brains' from stem cells