Olfactory bulbectomy in rats and mice is a known model of depression and neurodegeneration.

We studied alterations of behavior and cholinergic system in bulbectomized rats and mice.

We found moderate signs of depressive-like behavior and impaired cognitive functions in bulbectomized rats and mice.

In rats, olfactory bulbectomy did not influence the cholinergic system.

In mice, olfactory bulbectomy induced a loss of cholinergic neurons in the medial septum-diagonal band.