Comparative single-cell transcriptomics of aquatic and terrestrial model vertebrate olfactory epithelium

Odor perception is essential for survival, reproduction, and social communication in vertebrates. The olfactory epithelium (OE) serves as the main tissue responsible for odor detection. To investigate the cellular composition and conserved features of the OE across representative aquatic and terrestrial vertebrate model species, we generated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from zebrafish, mice, and humans, comprising 42,210 cells in total. The datasets include individual and integrated single-cell transcriptomic profiles of the OE, enabling the identification and comparison of major cell types, including olfactory sensory neurons, basal cells, supporting cells, Bowman’s glands, and immune cells. In addition, we identified 7758 one-to-one orthologous genes across the three species for comparative transcriptomic analyses. Comparative analyses revealed conserved and species-specific transcriptional programs, including pathways related to olfactory signal transduction and neurotransmitter signaling. These datasets provide a valuable resource for exploring cellular diversity and transcriptional characteristics of OE across representative vertebrate species, facilitating further comparative and functional analyses.