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The olfactory mucosa is the neuroepithelial mucosa lining the roof and upper parts of the Nasal septum and lateral wall of the nasal cavity which contains Bipolar neuron of the primary receptor neurons of the olfactory pathway, as well as supporting cells. The neurons' Dendrite project towards the nasal cavity while their axons ascend through the cribriform plate as the Olfactory nerve.
The part of the nasal cavity that is lined with olfactory mucosa is known as the olfactory region ( pars olfactoria tunicae mucosae nasi), while the rest of the nasal cavity that is lined by ordinary respiratory mucosa is known as the respiratory region.
The olfactory mucosa is thicker and lighter in colour (yellowish-brown) in comparison to the (pinkish) respiratory mucosa lining the rest of the nasal cavity.
Glands of the olfactory mucosa secrete a mostly serous fluid.
In vertebrates, the olfactory epithelium consists of a three basic cell types: bipolar neuron olfactory receptor neurons; sustentacular cells, a type of supporting cell; and basal cells, the that continuously give rise to new olfactory receptor neurons and sustentacular cells.
Electron microscopy studies show that Bowman's glands contain cells with large secretory vesicles. The exact composition of the secretions from Bowman's glands is unclear, but there is evidence that they produce odorant binding protein.
Cells in the olfactory mucosa have been used in clinical trials for adult stem cell therapeutic treatments and successfully harvested for future applications.
CB1 receptors and obesity
Type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1 receptors) are present in the sustentacular cells of the olfactory mucosa, in the periglomerular cells of the olfactory bulb, and in the anterior olfactory nucleus and Olfactory system. A study in 2008 in mice has shown that the level of CB1 expression in various brain regions, including the olfactory nucleus, is modulated by diet-induced obesity.
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