Lecture 9: Intro to Peripheral Nervous System (ANS) Flashcards
Briefly, what input and output is coming to and from the spinal cord from the periphery?
input: sensory info and info from the autonomic NS (both PNS and SNS)
output: somatic info and also autonomic info (from both PSNS and SNS)
How does neurotransmission work at the chemical synapse?
nerve impulse arrives at the terminal, voltage gated calcium gates open, release of Ach-filled vesicles, binding of Ach to receptor on post-synaptic density, influx of sodium
Most tissues are innervated by both the…
PSNS and SNS branches of the ANS, but have opposing effects
The autonomic nervous system regulates
homeostasis and emotions
Unique features of the PSNS
- preganglionic neurons are longer and go closer to the effector organs, meaning postganglionic neurons are shorter
- ACh is used as a NT at both synapses
- nerves originate at the brainstem and sacral regions
Unique features of the SNS
- preganglionic neurons are shorter and synapse in the sympathetic ganglia chain that runs parallel to the spinal cord
- the synapse between the postganglionic and the effector organ involves NE instead of Ach
- neurons originate in the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord from the lateral horn
- the SNS is more diffuse - one postganglionic fibre branches and synapses with many more effector organs
Do all preganglionic fibres of the SNS synapse at the sympathetic ganglia?
No, a few exceptions:
- the preganglionic fibre to the adrenal medulla is long, doesn’t synapse in the ganglionic chain, and also doesn’t synapse on a postganglionic neuron at all. It synapses right onto the adrenal medulla, releases ACh onto nicotinic Rs, the medulla then releases NE and E into the blood stream
- A central nerve comes off the lateral horn of the thoracolumbar segments and continues through a splanchnic nerve to supply the viscera and synapse in the collateral / prevertebral ganglia (the celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric ganglia)
Adrenal medulla
sympathetic preganglionic fibre synapses on the adrenal medulla which then releases a combination of 80% epinephrine and 20% norepinephrine (and a tiny bit of DA)
Neurotransmitters of the ANS
- somatic nervous system is all Acetylcholine (ACh)
- preganglionic fibres of SNS and PSNS are both ACh
- postganglionic of PSNS is ACh
- postganglionic of SNS is NE
How is ACh made, packaged, and broken down?
choline is brought into the cell by a choline transporter, within the cell choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) links acetyl coA and choline, ACh is packaged into vesicles which then get released
acetylcholineesterase then breaks down ACh in the synapse
Hemicholine
blocks uptake of Choline by the choline transporter in the presynaptic cell (can’t make ACh)
Vesamicol
Stops presynaptic vesicles from filling with ACh
metabolic pathway of catecholamine synthesis
- tyrosine -> LDOPA via tyrosine hydroxylase
- LDOPA -> DA via dopa decarboxylase
- DA -> NE via DA-beta-hydroxylase
- NE -> Epi via
the enzymes that are in the particular vesicle determine whether NE or E is made
What are the implications of transport pumps being ATP-dependent?
They can be targeted:
- cocaine targets DAT
- Imipramine and amitriptyline target NET and SERT
- reserpine targets VMAT2 (vesicular packaging)
How are catecholamines broken down?
Catecholeamine-o-methyl-transferase (COMT) breaks down catecholeamines in the periphery
MAO (which is usually in the neuron) also breaks down down catecholamines
Classes of Receptors in the ANS
Cholinergic receptors
- nicotinic and muscarinic receptors
Adrenergic receptors
- alpha and beta adrenergic receptors
compare and contrast receptors of the ANS
- Alpha adrenergic, beta adrenergic, and muscarinic receptors are all GPCRs while nicotinic receptors are ligand gated ion channels
- nicotinic and musc receptors bind ACh, while adrenergic receptors bind epi and ne
nicotinic receptors
Cholinergic receptor
- ligand-gated ion channel
- opens and lets calcium and sodium cations in
- leads to depolarization
muscarinic receptors
Cholinergic Receptor
- GPCR
- effect depends on the target cell and the signalling molecules (could open channels or cause intracell signalling cascade)
alpha adrenergic receptors
GPCR
most common of the adrenergic receptors. Kind of expressed everywhere
bind Epi and NE (NE preferentially)
Beta adrenergic receptors
- also GPCR
- more selectively expressed
- ALL of these activate AC to increase cAMP
subtypes of nicotinic cholinergic receptors
made up of 5 subunits
- either alpha 1-9, beta 1-4, and gamma, delta, or epsilon
- the physiological effect depends on the makeup of the receptor (subunits)
- the most common in the PNS is a makeup of
2 alpha-3 and 3 beta-4
subtypes of muscarinic cholinergic receptors
there are m1-m5 subtypes
- m1, m3, and m5 are all excitatory and act through Gq. Phospholipase C activity activates IP3 and DAG which increase intracellular calcium and PKC activity, respectively
- m2 and m4 are inhibitory and act through Gi (reduce cAMP by inhibiting AC)
DMPP
agonist of nicotinic receptors in the PNS
hexamethonium
antagonist of PNS nicotinic receptors
Ach, muscarine, and carbacol all act on which receptor and do what?
muscarinic receptors
- they’re all agonists
atropine and scopoloamine both act on which receptor and do what?
muscarinic receptors
- all antagonize
Alpha1 adrenergic receptor signalling cascade
Remember from psy396! Alpha1 are excitatory and act through Gq (can draw a q with 1 line)
Gq –> PLC –> increase calcium (depolarization)