Bozza Lab Finds Scent Receptor Regulates Aggression in Mice
March 30, 2026
In a new paper published March 30th, the Bozza Lab showed that trimethylamine (TMA), a metabolite produced by the gut microbiome in mice, activates a particular olfactory receptor (TAAR5) to regulate aggression and social hierarchy among male mice. This discovery demonstrates that the olfactory system plays a significant role in shaping and regulating mammalian social behavior. Read the paper in Current Biology here, and the Northwestern Now article by Amanda Morris here!