Journal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Volume 13, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27937-1
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This study investigates the constituents and functions of olfactory mucus, finding that it contains high concentrations of solutes and molecules related to odorant metabolism. The study also reveals the age-dependent decrease in the amount of olfactory mucus and its impact on the sensitivity of odorant detection by receptors. These findings provide insights into the molecular processes of olfactory mucus and propose a potential cause of olfactory decline.
Odorants are detected by olfactory sensory neurons, which are covered by olfactory mucus. Despite the existence of studies on olfactory mucus, its constituents, functions, and interindividual variability remain poorly understood. Here, we describe a human study that combined the collection of olfactory mucus and olfactory psychophysical tests. Our analyses revealed that olfactory mucus contains high concentrations of solutes, such as total proteins, inorganic elements, and molecules for xenobiotic metabolism. The high concentrations result in a capacity to capture or metabolize a specific repertoire of odorants. We provide evidence that odorant metabolism modifies our sense of smell. Finally, the amount of olfactory mucus decreases in an age-dependent manner. A follow-up experiment recapitulated the importance of the amount of mucus in the sensitive detection of odorants by their receptors. These findings provide a comprehensive picture of the molecular processes in olfactory mucus and propose a potential cause of olfactory decline.
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