A Single-Cell Temporal Atlas of Mouse Nasal Embryonic Development

Abstract

The mammals breathe and perceive odors through anatomically and functionally distinct respiratory and olfactory regions of the nose; however, how the early embryo endows this system remains largely unknown. Here, we present a temporal high-resolution single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) atlas of mouse nasal development, comprising 183,247 cells collected from 20 embryos spanning embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) to E18.5. We identified 7 major cell clusters and 52 molecularly defined subtypes, including previously unrecognized rare populations and niche-derived signaling components involved in progenitor cell maintenance. Lineage reconstruction of epithelial and mesenchymal compartments revealed dynamic cell fate transitions and highlighted candidate regulators of lineage specification, including Foxa1 as a regulator of nasal respiratory ciliated epithelium differentiation. Integration with adult nasal epithelium datasets further delineated transcriptional dynamics of olfactory stem cells. This study provides a molecular roadmap of nasal development and offers a valuable resource for future research into nasal biology and regenerative strategies.