Effects of unilateral naris occlusion on the olfactory epithelium of adult mice.

Sensory stimulation is an essential component of neuronal functions, including information processing, dendritic and axonal refinement, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival. We examined the roles of sensory stimulation in the maintenance of olfactory sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium using the adult mouse olfactory system as the model system. Obstruction of sensory stimulation through unilateral naris occlusion caused downregulation of proliferation and upregulation of apoptosis of neurons in the olfactory epithelium. Sensory stimulation is therefore important in maintaining homeostasis in the adult olfactory epithelium. Our study contributes to further understanding the roles and mechanisms of sensory stimulation in the postnatal neuronal development as well as to the damage and potential treatments of patients who suffer recurrent nasal obstruction.