Organum vasculosum of lamina terminalis

The organum vasculosum laminae terminalis ( OVLT ) is a zirkumventrikuläres organ. It is located rostral to the hypothalamus and is part of the lamina terminalis.

Function

The function of the OVLT is not yet fully understood. It is assumed that it is involved in the regulation of thirst, hunger, and in the development and regulation of temperature. Endogenous pyrogens, such as interleukin -1 ( IL-1) induced in the OVLT increased synthesis and expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX -2). This enzyme is synthesized from arachidonic acid including the eicosanoid prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

PGE2 stimulates the macrophages to produce a further pyrogens such as tumor necrosis factor - α (TNF- α ) and interleukin- 1 and binds to the other of the prostanoid EP3 receptor in the nucleus preopticus median, the thermoregulatory center of the hypothalamus. The nucleus in turn projects via GABAergic neurons preopticus in the central gray matter ( periaqueductal gray, PAG) and in the raphe nuclei, where thermogenesis is controlled.

Clinical Relevance

Specific antipyretic analgesics are the selective COX -2 inhibitors ( celecoxib, rofecoxib ). You are currently due to severe heart muscle damaging side effects in conversation. These analgesics inhibit cyclooxygenase 2 in the OVLT and thus act by the central nervous febrifuge ( antipyretic ) and pain-relieving ( analgesic ).