Receptor neuron losses result in decreased cytochrome P-450 immunoreactivity in associated non-neuronal cells of mouse olfactory mucosa.

Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses were used to investigate nasal cytochrome P-450 distribution in mice with either unilateral naris closure for 3, 4, or 5 months, or olfactory bulbectomy. P-450 immunoreactivity was observed only in the supporting cells and Bowman's glands of the olfactory mucosa. Immunoreactivity was clearly reduced in rostral regions of the open-side olfactory mucosa where losses of receptor neurons resulted from 3 to 5 months of closure. Closed-side immunoreactivity was similar to controls. In 4 month closure animals that had regrown their receptor neurons, open-side immunoreactivity was comparable to controls. Olfactory bulbectomy also depressed P-450 immunoreactivity. These data suggest that presence or absence of receptor neurons markedly affects P-450 expression in nonneuronal cells of the olfactory mucosa.