Objective: This study aimed to investigate the function of tissue plasminogen activator in the olfactory epithelium of mice following neural injury.
Method: Transmission electron microscopy was used to study the changes in the morphology of the olfactory epithelium 1-7 days after surgical ablation of the olfactory bulb (bulbectomy).
Results: Prior to bulbectomy, a uniformly fine material was observed within some regions of the olfactory epithelium of mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator. At 2-3 days after bulbectomy, there were degenerative changes in the olfactory epithelium. At 5-7 days after bulbectomy, we noted drastic differences in olfactory epithelium morphology between mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator and wild-type mice (comparisons were made using findings from a previous study). The microvilli seemed to be normal and olfactory vesicles and receptor neuron dendrites were largely intact in the olfactory epithelium of mice deficient in tissue plasminogen activator.
Conclusion: The tissue plasminogen activator plasmin system may inhibit the regeneration of the olfactory epithelium in the early stages following neural injury.