How scientists are growing human brain cells inside living mice
In short: Stem cells can transform into almost any cell type, but studying them in a petri dish has limits. By injecting human cells into pregnant mice, researchers are creating hybrid models that allow us to observe human neurons functioning within a living, complex biological environment.
Neurobiologists face a significant hurdle because human neural cells grow at a rate at least 20 times slower than mouse cells. In a standard mouse, the rapid development of native neurons creates a dense network that outcompetes any introduced human cells before they can even extend a few millimeters. To overcome this biological race, researchers led by Sergiu Pașca of Stanford University used genetic tools to breed mice missing specific parts of their cerebral cortexes. This biological mismatch means that by the time human cells manage to extend just a few millimetres, the mouse's brain development has already closed.
By removing these mouse brain regions, scientists created space for lab-grown human neurons to integrate. This technique allows for the installation of millions of human cells, providing a more natural environment to study how human brain circuits form. This is particularly vital for modeling neurodegenerative diseases or conditions like cerebral palsy, which would be difficult to study through other means.
While this represents a significant leap for modeling human brain function, it also invites ethical scrutiny. Experts like Hongkui Zeng from the Allen Institute suggest that as this technology evolves, we must consider the implications of deploying it in larger or longer-living animals. While these hybrid models offer unprecedented access to human biology, they also raise profound questions about the ethical treatment of such organisms. This development raises significant questions regarding the future direction of such research. Furthermore, the ability to create these models provides access to various aspects of human brain function that are otherwise extremely difficult to study.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Why Scientists Are Using Mice to Make Human Cells
- Also: Mice with human cells developed using ‘game-changing’ technique | Nature
- Also: Mice with human brain cells offer a tool to study disease. Ethicists ask: What’s next? : NPR
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