title: A new technique for modeling neuronal connectivity using human pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe a technique for independently differentiating neocortical and mesencephalic dopaminergic (mDA) neurons from a single human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) line, and subsequently allowing the two cell types to interact and form connections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dopaminergic and neocortical progenitors were differentiated in separate vessels, then separately seeded into the inner and outer compartments of specialized cell culture vessels designed for in vitro studies of wound healing. Cells were further differentiated using dopamine-specific and neocortex-specific trophic factors, respectively. The barrier was then removed, and differentiation was continued for three weeks in the presence of BDNF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After three weeks of differentiation, neocortical and mDA cell bodies largely remained in the areas into which they had been seeded, and the gap between the mDA and neocortical neuron populations could still be discerned. Abundant tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive projections had extended from the area of the inner chamber to the outer chamber neocortical area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have developed a hPSC-based system for producing connections between neurons from two brain regions, neocortex and midbrain. Future experiments could employ modifications of this method to examine connections between any two brain regions or neuronal subtypes that can be produced from hPSCs in vitro.
authors.forename: Chun-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Raphael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bendriem
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Freed
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Neocortex; differentiation; dopamine; embryonic stem cell; human; neuronal projections; pluripotent stem cell
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