The circumventricular organs.

The circumventricular organs.

Histol Histopathol. 2017 Feb 08;:11881

Authors: Kaur C, Ling EA

Abstract
The circumventricular organs (CVOs) are midline structures located around the third and fourth ventricles and are characterized by a lack of blood-brain barrier. The pineal gland, median eminence, neurohypophysis and the subcommisural organ are classified as secretory, whereas the subfornical organ, area postrema and the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis are the sensory CVOs. Specialised ependymal cells known as tanycytes form the ependymal of these organs. Glial cells consisting of astrocytes and microglia/macrophages are present in all these organs. The pineal gland, neurohypophysis and the median eminence lack the presence of neurons that are present in the rest of the circumventricular organs. Most of the circumventricular organs are lined by ependymal cells except for the pineal and the neurohypophysis. Modified ependymal cells known as tanycytes are present in the ependymal lining. These organs are important sites for communication with the CSF and between the brain and peripheral organs via blood-borne products as they lack the blood brain barrier.

PMID: 28177105 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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