Part I: Intro to Autonomics and Adrenergic Signaling Flashcards
What two systems is the Nervous system made up of?
Central and Peripheral Nervous System
What is the central nervous system made up of?
Brain Spinal Cord
What pathways is the peripheral nervous system made up of?
Sensory Pathways (Afferent) Motor Pathways (Efferent)
What two systems make up the Motor Pathway (Efferent)
Somatic Nervous System (Voluntary) Autonomic Nervous System (Involuntary)
What are the divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Sympathetic Division Parasympathetic Division
Describe the Autonomic Nervous System Anatomy
Neurons and Ganglia of the Autonomic Nervous System
- Ganglia are collections of synapses protected by a barrier
- Parasympathetic NS has long preganglionic and short post-ganglionic neurons
- Sympathetic NS has short preganglionic and long post-ganglionic neurons
- Somatic NS has no ganglia between the spinal cord and the target organ—just one long neuron
Chemical neurotransmitters utilized by ANS
Acetylcholine (Ach)
Norepinephrine (NE)
Epinephrine (EPI)
Dopamine (not a direct neurotransmitter in SNS, but important precursor to NE and EPI)
Other: ATP, Adenosine, Serotonin, peptides such as Atrial Naturetic Factor
Acetylcholine (Ach)
Released by preganglionic fibers (short), somatic neurons and post-ganglionic neurons in the parasympathetic NS
Norepinephrine (NE)
Released by postganglionic fibers in the sympathetic NS
Epinephrine (EPI)
Released into general circulation by the adrenal medulla, a de facto sympathetic post-ganglionic tissue
Organs in which the SNS and PNS have opposing effects
Heart - Rate, Contractility, force
Lungs - Bronchoconstriction
GI and Bladder - Motility of longitudinal muscle and tone of detrusor muscle, Sphincters, PNS indirectly controls SNS
· Salivary, Lacrimal, nasopharyngeal, and most sweat glands
Eye - Pupillary constriction, accommodation for near and far vision
Anatomy of the eye based on picture from slides
Examples of PNS and SNS cooperation
·Sweating
Generalized hydration of the skin controlled by the PNS.
Localized sympathetic cholinergic sweating in the palms, underarms
·Pulmonary secretions
PNS controls mucus secretions in the lungs
SNS controls watery secretions in the lungs
·Male Sexual response
Point and Shoot
Special Situations for PNS and SNS
Pregnant uterine myometrium - Inhibited with SNS stimulation
Female sexual response - Complicated
Organs/tissues exclusively controlled by the SNS
·Blood vessels
Exclusively sympathetic innervation of major blood vessels leads to vasoconstriction as the basal tone (maintaining blood pressure even at rest)
Exclusively sympathetic innervation of blood vessels to gut, kidney and skin
Sympathetic innervation of blood vessels in striated (skeletal) muscle and liver is vasodilating
Blood flow to the heart and brain is mostly controlled by local factors and pressure differentials, not by the autonomic nervous system
·Kidney vasoconstriction and renin secretion
·Liver glycogenolysis, fat cell lipolysis, pancreatic insulin secretion
·Skeletal muscle metabolism (NOT contraction)
Adrenergic Receptor Subtypes
Gaq activates phospholipase C-b enzymes
- Increased Ca++ levels in smooth muscle lead to contraction
Gas activates adenylyl cyclase (and L-type Ca++ channels in the heart)
- Increased cyclic AMP and cytosolic Ca++ increases heart rate and contractility
- Increased cyclic AMP in smooth muscle promotes relaxation
Gai inhibits adenylyl cyclase
- Decreased cyclic AMP in smooth muscle promotes contraction
- Decreased cyclic AMP in heart decreases rate and contractility
- Activates K+ channels to cause inhibition of presynaptic neurotransmitter release
Cardiac Signal Transduction
Smooth muscle signal transduction
Receptor regulation
Supersensitization
- Occurs following long term blockade of receptors with antagonists
- Up-regulation (increased levels) of receptors leads to supersensitivity to activation
- Problematic if taking b-blockers (antagonists) longterm.
- Abrupt withdrawal of b-blockers increases likelihood of a myocardial infarction for up to 2 weeks following cessation of therapy
Baroreflex - Cardiac Effects
Changes in blood pressure normally activate baroreceptors sensors on the aorta, sending a signal through an afferent nerve to the brainstem. Connections in the brain stem monitor blood pressure and send messages through the efferent vagus nerve to change heart rate in compensation by increasing or decreasing ACh release from vagus nerve.
If blood pressure ⬆ then heart rate ⬇
If blood pressure ⬇ then heart rate ⬆
Baroreflex - Vascular Effects
Change the tone of the major blood vessels in compensation for changes in blood pressure.