Prolonged and extended impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on the olfactory neurocircuit

Megumi Kishimoto-Urata; Shinji Urata; Ryoji Kagoya; Fumiaki Imamura; Shin Nagayama; Rachel A. Reyna; Junki Maruyama; Tatsuya Yamasoba; Kenji Kondo; Sanae Hasegawa-Ishii; Slobodan Paessler

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-09731-7

Scientific Reports (Apr 2022)

Prolonged and extended impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on the olfactory neurocircuit

Megumi Kishimoto-Urata,
Shinji Urata,
Ryoji Kagoya,
Fumiaki Imamura,
Shin Nagayama,
Rachel A. Reyna,
Junki Maruyama,
Tatsuya Yamasoba,
Kenji Kondo,
Sanae Hasegawa-Ishii,
Slobodan Paessler

Affiliations

Megumi Kishimoto-Urata: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch
Shinji Urata: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch
Ryoji Kagoya: Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Fumiaki Imamura: Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine
Shin Nagayama: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Rachel A. Reyna: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch
Junki Maruyama: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch
Tatsuya Yamasoba: Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Kenji Kondo: Department of Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
Sanae Hasegawa-Ishii: Pathology Research Team, Kyorin University
Slobodan Paessler: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09731-7
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the olfactory pathway was studied over several time points using Syrian golden hamsters. We found an incomplete recovery of the olfactory sensory neurons, prolonged activation of glial cells in the olfactory bulb, and a decrease in the density of dendritic spines within the hippocampus. These data may be useful for elucidating the mechanism underlying long-lasting olfactory dysfunction and cognitive impairment as a post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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