Stem cell-derived mouse embryos develop within an extra-embryonic yolk sac to form anterior brain regions and a beating heart

Abstract

Embryo-like structures generated from stem cells can achieve varying developmental milestones, but none have been shown to progress through gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis. Here, we show that ETiX mouse embryos, established from embryonic stem cells aggregated with trophoblast stem cells and inducible extraembryonic endoderm stem cells, can develop through gastrulation and beyond to undertake neural induction and generate the progenitors needed to create the entire organism. The head-folds of ETiX embryos show anterior expression of Otx2, defining forebrain and midbrain regions that resemble those of the natural mouse embryo. ETiX embryos also develop beating hearts, trunk structures comprising a neural tube and somites, tail buds containing neuromesodermal progenitors and primordial germ cells, and gut tubes derived from definitive endoderm. A fraction of ETiX embryos show neural tube abnormalities, which can be partially rescued by treatment with the metabolically active form of folic acid, reminiscent of common birth defects and therapies in humans. Notably, ETiX embryos also develop a yolk sac with blood islands. Overall, ETiX embryos uniquely recapitulate natural embryos, developing further than any other stem-cell derived model, through multiple post-implantation stages and within extra-embryonic membranes.

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