First Detailed Smell Map Reveals Receptor Gradient in Mouse Noses
Scientists produced the first detailed map of olfactory receptors in a mouse nose, revealing an organized gradient of receptor types arranged in horizontal bands that align with the brain’s olfactory bulb. Using single-cell sequencing from about 2.3 million neurons across 5 million nasal cells in roughly 300 mice, the team showed receptor expression follows a spatial order and can be shifted by retinoic acid, advancing understanding of how smell works and potentially guiding future restoration in humans. The findings were published in Cell (2026).
