Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the age-related decrease in the axonal diameter of the olfactory nerve. This finding may represent the maturational change of the olfactory receptor neurons.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate age-related changes in the axonal diameter of the olfactory nerve in the lamina propria.
Materials and methods: Female ICR mice, postnatal age 10 days, 3 months, 7 months, and 16 months, were studied. The electron micrographs of septal olfactory mucosa were used to measure the axonal diameters of olfactory nerves.
Results: The distribution of the diameter shifted toward the thinner side between 10-day-old and 3-month-old mice. The axonal diameter showed significant decreases (p < 0.001) from the age of 10 days to that of 3 months.