To provide an in vitro human model of the neuromuscular junction prepared from pluripotent stem cells that can be used to assess neuronal connectivity and effect of modulating compounds on such connectivity.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to producing an in vitro model of the human neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in which the model is prepared by co-culturing human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived spinal motorneurons with human myoblast-derived skeletal muscle or PSC-derived muscle cells. In specific embodiments, the neurons are under optogenetic control, and may be activated upon stimulation using light.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1-1
IN VITRO METHODS OF IDENTIFYING MODULATORS OF NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION ACTIVITY