8 million brain cells mapped to reveal 60 types in deep regions

UC Irvine researchers mapped approximately 8 million cells in deep human brain regions, identifying 60 distinct cell types and their spatial organization, providing a foundational reference for studying Parkinson's, Huntington's and other neurological disorders. The atlas focuses on the basal ganglia, using spatial transcriptomics technologies MERFISH+ and Stereo-seq to analyze brain samples from four neurotypical donors. The study revealed that different cell types occupy distinct areas, with some supporting cells clustering along compartment borders and certain primate-enriched neurons confined to specific regions. Published in Cell, the study is part of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network's coordinated publication package involving 55 institutions across nine countries. UC Irvine also led a companion paper in Cell Systems detailing tissue procurement infrastructure, with the long-term goal of connecting molecular maps to anatomical connections and disease-related changes.