Scientists of Singapore succeed in growing functioning midbrain tissue

Scientists of Singapore succeed in growing functioning midbrain tissue

Scientists in Singapore have made a big leap on research on the brain.

They claim to have successfully grown functioning midbrain tissue, a feat that may bring researchers a step closer to finding a cure for brain diseases like Parkinson’s Disease.

The human midbrain, which is the information superhighway, controls auditory, eye movements, vision and body movements. It contains special dopaminergic neurons that produce dopamine which carries out significant roles in executive functions, motor control, motivation, reinforcement, and reward. High levels of dopamine elevate motor activity and impulsive behaviour, whereas low levels of dopamine lead to slowed reactions and disorders like PD, which is characterized by stiffness and difficulties in initiating movements.

While other researchers have previously managed to grow brain tissue in a lab, the Singapore team says their “eureka moment” came when they found the midbrain tissue had created neuromelanin, a pigment found in the human midbrain.

Professor Ng Huck Hui, the Genome Institute’s executive director, said the midbrain tissue had been grown from pluripotent cells — stem cells that can be programmed to become any tissue. The scientists had established a method of turning the cells into midbrain

tissue, and noticed the neuromelanin in the “mini brains” that they had grown.

“We didn’t expect to find the black pigment there,” he said, adding that the discovery opens the path for more targeted, individual cures.

Assistant Prof Shawn Je from Duke-NUS Medical School’s Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders Programme said, “It is remarkable that our midbrain organoids mimic human midbrain development. The cells divide, cluster together in layers, and become electrically and chemically active in three-dimensional environment like our brain. Now we can really test how these mini brains react to existing or newly developed drugs before treating patients, which will be a game changer for drug development.”

Prof Tan Eng King, Research Director and Senior Consultant, Department of Neurology at NNI and Lead PI of the TCR Programme in PD, remarked, “The human brain is arguably the most complex organ and chronic brain diseases pose considerable challenges to doctors and patients. This achievement by our Singapore team represents an initial but momentous scientific landmark as we continue to strive for better therapies for our patients.”

GIS Executive Director Prof Ng Huck Hui said, “Considering one of the biggest challenges we face in PD research is the lack of accessibility to the human brains, we have achieved a significant step forward. The midbrain organoids display great potential in replacing animals’ brains which are currently used in research; we can now use these midbrains in culture instead to advance our understanding and future studies for the disease, and perhaps even other related diseases.”