Thymidine incorporation in the olfactory epithelium of mice: early exponential response induced by olfactory neurectomy.

The incorporation of [3]thymidine by the olfactory epithelium rises exponentially immediately after nerve section, reaches a peak 12-fold over control values at day 4, and decreases somewhat less rapidly to near control levels by day 10. The protein content of the epithelium decreased to about 50% of control levels at day 3, then increased linearly, and reached control values by day 10. These data are consistent with a rapid loss of cells from the olfactory epithelium following olfactory nerve section that is coincident with a marked increase in the mitogenic activity of the basal cell population.