title: Olfactory epithelium changes in germfree mice.
abstract: Intestinal epithelium development is dramatically impaired in germfree rodents, but the consequences of the absence of microbiota have been overlooked in other epithelia. In the present study, we present the first description of the bacterial communities associated with the olfactory epithelium and explored differences in olfactory epithelium characteristics between germfree and conventional, specific pathogen-free, mice. While the anatomy of the olfactory epithelium was not significantly different, we observed a thinner olfactory cilia layer along with a decreased cellular turn-over in germfree mice. Using electro-olfactogram, we recorded the responses of olfactory sensitive neuronal populations to various odorant stimulations. We observed a global increase in the amplitude of responses to odorants in germfree mice as well as altered responses kinetics. These changes were associated with a decreased transcription of most olfactory transduction actors and of olfactory xenobiotic metabolising enzymes. Overall, we present here the first evidence that the microbiota modulates the physiology of olfactory epithelium. As olfaction is a major sensory modality for most animal species, the microbiota may have an important impact on animal physiology and behaviour through olfaction alteration.
authors.affiliation: NBO, UVSQ, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: François
authors.affiliation: NBO, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grebert
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Moez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rhimi
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR1404 MaIAGE, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mariadassou
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naudon
authors.affiliation: Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabot
authors.affiliation: NBO, UVSQ, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meunier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D015870:Gene Expression; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009812:Odorants; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012903:Smell
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S