Method to Generate Dorsal Forebrain Brain Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

Region-specific brain organoids, such as dorsal forebrain brain organoid, have become increasingly useful to model early brain development. Importantly, these organoids provide an avenue to investigate mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, as they undergo developmental milestones resembling early neocortical formation. These milestones include the generation of neural precursors which transition into intermediate cell types and subsequently to neurons and astrocytes, as well as the fulfillment of key neuronal maturation events such as synapse formation and pruning. Here we describe how to generate free-floating dorsal forebrain brain organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). We also describe validation of the organoids via cryosectioning and immunostaining. Additionally, we include an optimized protocol that allows high-quality dissociation of the brain organoids to live single cells, a critical step for downstream single-cell assays.