METHOD FOR PRODUCING ADENOHYPOPHYSIS OR PRECURSOR TISSUE THEREOF

摘要

The present invention provides a method for deriving an adenohypophysis or precursor tissue thereof in vitro from human pluripotent stem cells. In this method: a human cell aggregate including hypothalamus neuroepithelial tissue and epidermal ectoderm is obtained by subjecting a human pluripotent stem cell aggregate to suspension culture in a culture medium including a bone morphogenetic factor signal transduction pathway activator and an Shh signal pathway active substance; and by subjecting the obtained human cell aggregate including hypothalamus neuroepithelial tissue and epidermal ectoderm to further suspension culture in a culture medium including a bone morphogenetic factor signal transduction pathway activator and an Shh signal pathway active substance, the formation of a hypophysis placode and/or Rathke's pouch in the epidermal ectoderm is induced to obtain a human cell aggregate including 1) hypothalamus neuroepithelial tissue and 2) a hypophysis placode and/or Rathke's pouch.