Nose maps reveal striped blueprint for scent receptors
TL;DR
Detailed maps of mouse olfactory receptors show ~1,100 receptors arranged in horizontal stripes across the nasal epithelium, overturning the long-held zonal model. Using single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics on millions of neurons, researchers linked each receptor to a specific nose position and uncovered a retinoic acid gradient that guides development. A companion study adds an atlas of receptor expression and neural connections to the olfactory bulb, advancing the nose-to-brain map of smell.
Topics:scienceneuroscience#neuroscience#olfaction#olfactory-receptors#retinoic-acid#single-cell-sequencing#spatial-mapping
- First detailed ‘smell maps’ reveal how noses track odours Nature
- First-of-its-kind map of the mouse nose reveals surprises about the sense of smell Live Science
- Research Finally Decodes the Brain’s Smell Map Neuroscience News
- First-Ever Smell Map Is a Breakthrough in Sensory Research, a Step to Help Us Tackle Loss of Smell Discover Magazine
- Harvard scientists create first detailed map of smell receptors News-Medical
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