The morphological alteration of the olfactory epithelium associated with unilateral nare closure

Unilateral nare closure for less than 6 weeks had no observable effects on the histology or OMP staining of- the olfactory epithelia. In contrast, unilateral nare closure for 2 and 3 months caused severe effects on the histology and OMP staining of the olfactory epithelia. In the rostral parts of these olfactory epithelia there was almost complete loss of olfactory receptor neurons and OMP staining. Unilateral nare closure for 2 and 3 months in adult mice caused severe effects on the histology and immunohistochemistry of the olfactory epithelia of the open side of the mouse. On the open side there appeared to be a disorganization of the epithelial structure, with almost complete loss of olfactory receptor neurons and replacement by a cuboidal--cell type of epithelium. In contrast, the olfactory epithelia on the closed sides and on both sides of mice with less than 2 month nare closures were histologically and immunohistochemically indistinguishable from untreated controls. In summary, within 6 weeks unilateral nare closure adult mice, no obvious differences could be detected between the two sides of the noses in histology and OMP staining. Between 2 and 3 months with one side closed, there were striking differences in olfactory epithelium.