Stem cells used to generate mini brains of the last male Sumatran rhino

The last male Malaysian Sumatran rhino was the subject of a study published in the journal iScience. The organoids have the potential to contribute to knowledge about the evolution of brain development in mammals and the history of the rhinoceros family.

Cerebral organoids have only been obtained from mouse, human, and non-human primate pluripotent stem cells so far. The formation of mini brains from Sumatran rhino iPSCs was similar to that of human organoids.

The sixth mass extinction is going fast. There are five rhinoceros species that are affected by habitat destruction. The smallest and oldest rhinoceros is the Sumatran rhino. It is involved in shaping forests and spreading the seeds of many plant species.

There are fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos on the planet. They used to live in a huge area in East and Southeast Asia. There are only a small number of people in Sumatra and Indonesian Borneo. Habitat loss and limited breeding possibilities are the main threats to the species.

The introduction of genetic material is needed to stop the erosion of genetic diversity. Innovative technologies are needed because the propagation rate of captive breeding is too low. They give rise to each cell in the body and provide a unique approach to preserving genetic material. Research on species-specific developmental processes can be done using iPSCs.

Diecke and his team created iPSCs from the last male Malaysian Sumatran rhino, Kertam, who died in 2019. The three germ layers were formed by the iPSCs. The authors created an opportunity to produce viable spermatozoa for breeding purposes in the future. The quality of semen collected from Sumatran rhinos is poor and even worse after cryopreservation and thawing, which is a reason for assisted breeding of Sumatran rhinos in general.

The cerebral organoids show the ability of iPSCs to generate complex 3D structures and represent a promising application for studying the evolution of brain development. All neural markers tested were expressed by the organoids. This work is the first step in the fight to save the Sumatran rhino.

Diecke hopes that the general audience will gain insight into the great potential of iPSCs and the variety of applications they can be used for. The sixth mass extinction event is caused by human activities and the great efforts that need to be taken to save a single species.

There are stem cells and cerebral organoids from the Sumatran rhinoceros. The article is titled "Isci.2022.105414".

Journal information: iScience