Figure 7.

Proposed model to account for the glucose flow in the olfactory mucosa and its utilization by the olfactory cilia. The epithelial distribution of glucose transporters allows the facilitated diffusion of glucose from the blood vessels into SCs, and through these cells toward their apical microvilli, from where it is released to the surrounding mucus. Glucose is transported into the cilia, where it is metabolized by glycolysis, generating ATP. Mitochondria contained in the dendritic knob also provide ATP to the cilia, by oxidative phosphorylation. Glc, glucose; BG, Bowman's gland; TJ, tight junction; V, blood vessel.