Gastruloids generated without exogenous Wnt activation develop anterior neural tissues

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.03.017
• Publication Date: 2021-04-22T16:37:47Z
• Authors: Mehmet U. Girgin; Nicolas Broguiere; Lorenzo Mattolini; Matthias P. Lutolf
• Keywords: Epiblast; Neural Development

When stimulated with a pulse from an exogenous WNT pathway activator, small aggregates of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can undergo embryo-like axial morphogenesis and patterning along the three major body axes. However, these structures, called gastruloids, currently lack anterior regions, such as those belonging to brain. Here, we describe approach generate gastruloids that have more complete antero-posterior development. We used hydrogel microwell arrays promote robust derivation ESCs into post-implantation epiblast-like (EPI) in reproducible scalable manner. These EPI break symmetry axially elongate without external chemical stimulation. Inhibition signaling early stages development leads formation neural tissues. Thus, provide new tool study after implantation vitro, especially regions.