The role of endothelial-derived factors in neural tube development: implications for organoid models

The study of the neural tube (NT), the antecedent structure of the central nervous system, is challenging due to the inaccessibility of the embryo. Thus, our understanding of this crucial timepoint in development is limited. The use of organoid models in recent years has proven immensely beneficial in the field of embryology, allowing the direct study of in vitro models of early neural development. As organoids advance in complexity, the vascularization of brain organoids has become a point of interest due to its significant role in neural development. This raises the question of whether the vascularization of NT organoids is necessary to improve their accuracy. This review summarizes the role of vascularization both during and before NT formation and explores the effects of endothelial-derived factors on this process. While the data indicate that vascularization is essential for proper NT formation, this review also highlights a significant gap in our knowledge and the need to clarify these interactions in order to generate more accurate organoid models.