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Circumventricular Organs in Neuroendocrine Control
Book chapter

Circumventricular Organs in Neuroendocrine Control

A.K Johnson
Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, pp.1003-1006
Elsevier Ltd
2009
DOI: 10.1016/B978-008045046-9.01167-0

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Abstract

Brain circumventricular organs (CVOs) are small midline or near-midline structures that border the cerebral ventricles. CVOs lack a blood–brain barrier, and their number varies across vertebrate species. The most common mammalian CVOs include the subfornical organ (SFO), organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT), median eminence (ME), pituitary neural lobe (NL), pineal gland (PI), and area postrema (AP). The ME, PI, and NL have long been recognized as secretory neuroendocrine structures. Although the SFO, OVLT, and AP were also initially hypothesized to have secretory functions, recent studies ascribe to them sensory roles for detecting various humoral factors (e.g., hormones, osmols, and specific ions).
Autonomic nervous systemBlood–brain barrierBlood pressureBody fluid balanceCircumventricular organsNeuroendocrineThirst and salt appetiteVisceral neural network

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