The neuroplastic effect of olfactory training to the recovery of olfactory system in mouse model

Background: Several studies have reported the benefits of olfactory training (OT) in the olfactory nervous system of mouse models. Therefore, in this study we performed next-generation sequencing to evaluate the effects of OT on mRNA sequencing in the olfactory area.

Methods: Mice in each group were administered 300 mg of 3-methylindole per kilogram of mouse weight. The olfactory function was evaluated by a food-finding test once a week. The olfactory neuroepithelium was harvested for histologic examination and protein analysis. Subsequently, data analysis, gene ontology and pathway analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of mRNA, and Western blot analysis were conducted.

Results: Mice were divided into 4 groups according to treatment. Control, anosmia, training, and steroid group mice resumed food finding. Olfactory Maker Protein, olfr1507, ADCY3, and GNAL mRNA expression was higher in the olfactory neuroepithelium of OT than anosmia group mice. In total, 26,364 mRNAs were analyzed. Comparison of the results of OT vs anosmia revealed that ADCY8,10, GFAP, NGF, NGFR, GFAP, and BDNF mRNAs were upregulated in the gene ontology.

Conclusion: OT improved olfactory function, as indicated by the food-finding test. OT improved the olfactory recovery time to stimulate olfactory nerve regeneration. OT may initially stimulate the olfactory receptor, followed by neurogenesis. Steroid therapy and OT operated under completely different mechanisms in the upregulated gene study. These results indicate that OT may be one of the future modalities for treating olfactory impairment.