Generating a reliable source of human hippocampal tissue is an important step for cell-based research into hippocampus-related diseases.

Investigators show the generation of functional hippocampal granule- and pyramidal-like neurons from self-organizing dorsomedial telencephalic tissue using human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

First, they develop a hESC culture method that utilizes bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signalling to induce choroid plexus, the most dorsomedial portion of the telencephalon.

Then, the authors find that titrating BMP and Wnt exposure allowed the self-organization of medial pallium tissues. Following long-term dissociation culture, these dorsomedial telencephalic tissues give rise to granule and pyramidal neurons, both of which were electrically functional with network formation.

Thus, the researchers developed an in vitro model that recapitulates human hippocampus development, allowing the generation of functional hippocampal granule- and pyramidal-like neurons.

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/151117/ncomms9896/full/ncomms9896.html