In conclusion our study supports the potential physiological importance of APJ and apelin in the sensory CVOs by showing that (1) the SFO, OVLT, and AP, which are linked to the central networks that modulate central cardiovascular responses, express components of the apelinergic system, and (2) the expression of aplnr in the SFO is altered in SHRs indicating CVO apelinergic dysfunction in this model of hypertension. The gene discussed is APLNR; the disease is hypertensive disorder.