Hindbrain explants enable multimodal and longitudinal analysis of the developing olivo-cerebellar circuit at single-cell resolution

Abstract

Experimental models that preserve native mammalian CNS circuitry while enabling longitudinal analysis of circuit assembly at single-cell resolution remain scarce, limiting mechanistic studies and therapeutic discovery. Here, we establish embryonic mouse hindbrain explants as a scalable in vitro model that maintains the long-range olivo-cerebellar circuit while providing direct experimental access to both pre- and postsynaptic neurons. The preparation supports repeated live imaging, targeted single-cell manipulation and labelling, electrophysiology, ultrastructural analysis, and single-cell RNA sequencing during circuit assembly. Hindbrain explants faithfully recapitulate key features of olivo-cerebellar organization and development, including cytoarchitecture, synaptic organization and maturation, neuronal differentiation, and spontaneous network activity while preserving developmental glial features. By combining developmental and physiological fidelity with longitudinal multimodal accessibility, this resource bridges the gap between reductionist cultures and technically demanding in vivo approaches, providing a versatile and ethical model for investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cerebellar circuit assembly and disease.