Microgravity enhances the viability of midbrain organoids on the International Space Station.

ABSTRACT: As direct experimentation on the healthy human brain is ethically limited, developing brain models is essential. Currently, research groups employ complex in vitro brain organoid models, three-dimensional (3D) structures that mimic aspects of the human brain architecture. These organoids self-organize into small clusters that resemble key features of the developing brain, including functional neural networks, cortical layers, and specific brain regions. While not perfect replicas of the human brain, organoids are valuable for studying brain development, neurodegenerative diseases, drug testing, and genetic mutations. However, their complexity and size remain limited due to the absence of blood vessels, which restricts nutrient distribution and cell maturation. Additionally, their growth on Earth is influenced by physical constraints, particularly gravity. To investigate these effects, we describe in this study the survival of midbrain organoids grown for 40 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) under microgravity conditions, as well as the development and technical adaptation of the culture chambers. Unexpected hardware malfunction introduced an additional nutrient stressor, providing a unique opportunity to study how midbrain organoids adapt to the combined effects of microgravity and metabolic challenge.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE301053 | GEO | 2026/09/28

REPOSITORIES: GEO