Spinal cord organoids add an extra dimension to traditional motor neuron cultures

• Main Authors: Winanto, Khong, Zi-Jian, Hor, Jin-Hui, Ng, Shi-Yan
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: Spinal Cord; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Science::Biological sciences
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/83527; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/49761
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Since Lancaster et al. (2013) first described the formation of self-organizing cerebral organoids for modeling neurodevelopmental disorders, it became evident that three-dimensional (3D) neural organoid cultures are more superior systems for modeling neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration in human. The use of a spinning bioreactor to grow organoids allows better nutrient absorption and enhances formation of neuroepithelial-like zones, making it a great tool to study neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Neural organoids are 3D cell culture systems formed by proliferating, differentiating, migrating and self-organizing pools of neural progenitors. They mimic brain structures in their cell type composition, cytoarchitecture, and to some extent maturity and functionality (Lancaster et al., 2013).