The Sensory Circumventricular Organs of the Mammalian Brain Subfornical Organ, OVLT and Area Postrema

1 Introduction.- 2 Location, General Structure and Ependymal Cells of Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 2.1 Subfornical Organ.- 2.2 OVLT.- 2.3 Area Postrema.- 3 Regional Subdivisions Within Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 3.1 Subfornical Organ.- 3.2 OVLT.- 3.3 Area Postrema.- 4 Vasculature, Compartmental Barriers, Neurons and Glia in the Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 4.1 Subfornical Organ.- 4.2 OVLT.- 4.3 Area Postrema.- 5 Neurochemical Aspects of Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 5.1 Receptors.- 5.2 Neurotransmitters, Neuropeptides, Hormones and Enzymes.- 6 The Neural Connections of the Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 6.1 Subfornical Organ.- 6.2 Neural Connections of the OVLT.- 6.3 Area Postrema.- 7 Immediate-Early Gene Expression in Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 7.1 Angiotensin II.- 7.2 Baroreceptor Activation.- 7.3 Carbachol.- 7.4 Anorectic Peptides - Cholecystokinin, GLP-1 and Amylin.- 7.5 Hypertonicity.- 7.6 Lipopolysaccharide (Endotoxin).- 7.7 Relaxin.- 7.8 Vomiting and Emetic Stimuli.- 8 Functions of the Sensory Circumventricular Organs.- 8.1 Osmoregulation.- 8.2 Central Actions of Circulating Angiotensin.- 8.3 Influences on Arterial Pressure.- 8.4 Area Postrema and Vomiting.- 8.5 Neuroimmune Responses and Fever.- 8.6 Concluding Remarks.