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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Modelling Zika Virus Infection of the Developing Human Brain In Vitro Using Stem Cell Derived Cerebral Organoids
Published on: September 19, 2017
Stem cell models of human synapse development and degeneration
Emily S Wilson1, Karen Newell-Litwa1
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834.
Abstract:
Many brain disorders exhibit altered synapse formation in development or synapse loss with age. To understand the complexities of human synapse development and degeneration, scientists now engineer neurons and brain organoids from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSC). These hIPSC-derived brain models develop both excitatory and inhibitory synapses and functional synaptic activity. In this review, we address the ability of hIPSC-derived brain models to recapitulate synapse development and insights gained into the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic alterations in neuronal disorders. We also discuss the potential for more accurate human brain models to advance our understanding of synapse development, degeneration, and therapeutic responses.
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