Autonomic nervous system

Regulates:
Cardiac and smooth muscle
Glands
Involuntary actions

Consists of :
Preganglionic and postganglionic neurons
Postganglionic innervates effectors

The autonomic nervous system regulates

involuntary responses necessary for
homeostasis and survival
It consists of two main divisions, the parasympathetic nervous
system and the sympathetic nervous system.
The PNS regulates processes concerned with a resting and digesting state
It increases GI motility and secretion, Increases urine output, erection,
and most glandular secretions. It decreases both blood pressure and cardiac
function
The SNS is concerned with fight or flight responses
It increases cardiac function, blood pressure, bronchodilation, pupil
diameter and all things required to allow an organism to run away
It decreases functions such as GI motility, urine output and sexual arousal

Neither system can be thought of as solely stimulatory or inhibitory

 Autonomic neurons
Efferent motor neurons
Two neurons in pathway
1. Preganglionic neuron
Cell body in brain or spc
Synapses with autonomic ganglia

2. Postganglionic neuron
Cell body within autonomic ganglia
Travels to effector at target tissue
Ganglia in head, neck, abdomen, and chain ganglia
along SPC
Location differs between parasympathetic and
sympathetic

 Effector organs
Endocrine glands, smooth muscle, heart and
blood vessels
ANS for modulation, not function
Cardiac and smooth muscle automaticity
ANS modulates
Increases or decreases intrinsic activity

Autonomic nerves have resting tone

Baseline firing rate
Can be increased or decreased
EX Vagus nerve and heart rate

 ANS Divisions
Sympathetic
Fight or Flight

Parasympathetic
Rest and digest

 Sympathetic Division (thoracolumbar)

Fibers exit from T1-L2
Synapse in chain ganglia
travel up or down
Postganglionic fibers exit here
Travel to effectors via spinal nerves

Collateral ganglia
Exit SPC without synapsing
Below level of diaphragm
Innervate digestive, urinary, reproductive

 Parasympathetic Division
Craniosacral division
Preganglionic fibers originate in brainstem and S2-4
Synapse in ganglia near effectors
Do not travel via spinal nerves (most)

4 cranial nerves carry preganglionic fibers

Oculomotor
Constriction of pupil
facial
Lacrimal, mucous, salivary glands
glossopharyngeal
parotids
vagus (75% of all parasympathetic fibers)
Heart, lungs, GI, Liver, pancreas

Sacral spinal nerves

Control pelvic organs
Large intestine (lower), urinary bladder, rectum,
reproductive organs

 Postganglionic fibers
PNS
Cholinergic

SNS
Adrenergic
Some exceptions

All preganglionic fibers (Both divisions)

Cholinergic

All postganglionic neurons

Contain varicosities
Swellings
Contain neurotransmitter molecules
Release along axon length
Form synapses in passing

 Adrenergic responses
Norepinephrine
Sympathetic postganglionic fibers

Epinephrine
Adrenal medulla via blood

Both excitatory and stimulatory

EX contraction of heart and most vascular smooth
muscle, relaxation of bronchioles and select
smooth muscle
Varying effects with same neurotransmitter
Responses must rely on cell characteristics
Due to differing receptor types

 Steps for neurotransmitter release similar

to others
Control of synaptic levels similar as well

 Adrenergic receptors
Two main classes
All work via G protein signaling
Alpha
Alpha 1 and alpha 2

Alpha 1
Increases intracellular calcium
Constrict vessels and sphincters

Alpha2
Presynaptic
Decrease NE release from presynaptic cell
Negative feedback perhaps

Postsynaptic
Vascular smooth muscle
Contraction

Central
Decrease sympathetic outflow

Alpha 2 agonists are antihypertensives

Central actions override the vasoconstrictive effects

Beta
Beta 1 and Beta 2
Increase levels of cAMP
Promote smooth muscle relaxation, but increase force and rate of
cardiac contraction

Adrenergic receptor subtypes

Consist of alpha and Beta receptors with each having further subtypes.
Receptors differ in their locations and actions in response to
neurotransmitter binding
Alpha 1 receptors in general constrict most vessels and sphincters
The vessels innervated include most veins and arterioles . Note that those
feeding the coronary and skeletal muscle vasculature, are also innervated
by Beta 2 receptors which act to cause vasodilation
Alpha 2 receptors are located on presynaptic neurons and in the CNS
where they function to decrease release of NE or reduce sympathetic
outflow

Beta 1 receptors are located on the heart where they increase rate and
force of contraction
Beta 2 receptors are located on smooth muscle , where the response is
relaxation

they are located on the lung bronchioles , skeletal muscle vessels and
coronary vessels, bladder , GI smooth muscle and uterine smooth muscle

 Adrenergic drugs
Propranolol
Blocks both Beta 1 and Beta 2
Antihypertensive agent
Contraindicated in asthmatics
Why?

Atenolol
Beta 1 selective
Uses?

Epinephrine
Old inhaled asthma med
Action? Side effects?
Replaced by less problematic drugs

Phenylephrine
Alpha agonist
Cold medicine

Clonidine
Alpha 2 agonist
Antihypertensive agent

 Cholinergic actions
Cholinergic neurons
Somatic motor neurons (neuromuscular junction)
Excitatory , stimulate contraction

All preganglionic neurons

Excitatory , stimulate postganglionic fibers

Most postganglionic autonomic cholinergic neurons

Both excitatory and inhibitory
Slows heart, but activates GI tract

Receptor types
Nicotinic

Skeletal muscle
Postganglionic neurons
CNS
Blocked by curare

Muscarinic
Effector organs
Blocked by atropine

 Nicotinic Rs contd
Ligand gated ion channels (ionotropic)
Depolarization
Always excitatory

Muscarinic Rs
G protein coupled (metabotropic)
Many responses
Open or close ion channels
Enzyme activation
Gene transcription

Effects either excitatory or inhibitory

5 subtypes (M1-M5)
Subtype dictates response

 Atropine
Inhibits muscarinic Rs
Clinical uses

Pupil dilation
Reduction of resp. secretions pre-op
Antispasmodic (GI)
Antidote to nerve gas

Nerve gas
Inhibits AChE
Affects both muscarinic and nicotinic transmission

Atropine blocks muscarinic effects of nerve gas

 Organs with dual innervation

Both sympathetic and parasympathetic
Antagonistic, complementary, or cooperative

Antagonistic effects
Pacemaker of heart
Cells innervated by both systems
ACh slows
Epinephrine increases

Reverse seen in GI tract

 Complementary and cooperative effects

Most effects are antagonistic
Complementary
Both systems produce similar effects
Salivary gland secretion as example
PNS adds watery portion
SNS add thick portion
Result is a viscous , thicker saliva

Too much SNS activity= dry mouth

 Cooperative
Two systems work together to allow a function
Ex : male sexual function
PNS erection
SNS ejaculation

Singly innervated organs

Adrenal medulla
Sympathetic

Arrector pili muscles

Sympathetic

Skin sweat glands

Sympathetic

Blood vessels (most)

Sympathetic

Regulation via increased firing rate (tone)

 Control of ANS
Brain centers receive sensory info from
organs
Integrate and modify ANS outflow
Act on preganglionic autonomic neurons

Medulla
CV, respiratory, urinary, digestive, and
reproductive centers
Controls much of ANS activities

Medulla is in turn regulated by higher centers

Hypothalamus

 Summary
Adrenergic vs cholinergic
Effects of each system on organs
Receptor location and actions

Atropine
Antagonism and cooperativity between
systems