Odor-specific olfactory stimulation is associated with selective transcriptional changes and partial improvement of stress-evoked bladder overactivity in mice

Chronic psychological stress is known to induce functional and molecular alterations in central circuits regulating micturition. Here, we investigated whether odor-specific olfactory stimulation modulates stress-associated bladder dysfunction and related brain transcriptional responses. Female C57BL/6J mice were subjected to repeated water avoidance stress (WAS) and exposed to inhalated essential oils derived from Alpinia zerumbet (Gettou) or Citrus depressa (Shikuwasa). Bladder function was ass