Fig. 4: Nasal microbiota in the olfactory function.
From: Emerging role of the host microbiome in neuropsychiatric disorders: overview and future directions
The nasal cavity can be divided into distinct regions, including the nasal vestibules, respiratory region, olfactory region, and nasopharyngeal region. The nasal microbiota colonizes these regions, and plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the nasal mucosa and overall immune system function. There are three pathways from the mucus layer to the olfactory bulb: (a) the transcellular pathway, which involves passage through epithelial cells; (b) the paracellular pathway, which occurs between epithelial cells; and (c) the intracellular pathway, which occurs through the olfactory nerve. Considering the crucial role of the nasal microbiota within the nasal cavity, it is plausible that both the nasal microbiota and their metabolites may have a role in neuropsychiatric disorders. Part of the figure was designed using resources from Biorender.com.
