Use of thallium transport to visualize functional olfactory nerve regeneration in vivo.

OBJECTIVE

To image olfactory nerve regeneration in vivo using a high-resolution gamma cam- era and radiography after nasal administration of thallium-201 (olfacto-scintigraphy).

METHODS

Six Wistar rats were trained to avoid the smell of cycloheximide as a test of olfactory function. The olfactory nerve fibers of 3 rats were then carefully transected bilaterally with a Teflon knife, avoiding damage to the olfactory bulbs. The remaining 3 rats underwent sham operations and were used as controls. Steel wires were implanted in the left olfactory bulb of each rat for locating the bulbs with plain X-rays. The rats were assessed 2, 14, 28, and 42 d after the olfactory nerve transection or sham operation for their ability to detect odours and for transport of 201Tl to the olfactory bulb area 8 h after nasal administration of 201Tl.

RESULTS

Both transport of 201Tl to the olfactory bulb area (p < 0.04) and ability to detect odours (p < 0.04) significantly increased with a time course after olfactory nerve transection.

CONCLUSION

201Tl transport to the olfactory bulb may be useful to visually assess olfactory ability in vivo. We plan to test olfacto-scintigraphy clinically by nasal administration of 201Tl in patients with posttraumatic olfactory loss.