A Scoping Review of Research on the Cranial Molecular Counter-Current Transfer in Mammals

Abstract

Various cephalic sites of the molecular transport and counter-current transfer have been identified in mammalian species, including the choroid plexus blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (CPB-CFB), the cavernous sinus-carotid rete complex as well as the nasal vasculature exchange pathway. The present literature review has been conducted to incorporate articles highlighting the key findings, conclusions, and the anticipated impact of studies aimed to elucidate the counter-current transfer processes in the brain. Although cephalic sites of the molecular counter-current transport of biologically active substances have been clearly defined and their undeniable importance for neurohomeostatic regulations and reproductive physiology has been recognized, a scarcity of most recent reports have slightly dampened the optimism that in the nearest future these sites will be exploited to their full therapeutic potential.