The present state of Human embryonic stem cell-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons as a functional and phenotypic model for drug discovery

Human embryonic stem cell-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons could be the next generation of in vitro models to study complex neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. A hallmark feature of this disorder is a dysregulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission in the midbrain. In this thesis, a high throughput in vitro assay was developed to directly measure release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The assay was used to study the effects that antipsychotics have on the characteristics and function of dopaminergic neurons.