CHAPTER 9:

The Autonomic Nervous System

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The CNS and the PNS

The CNS: brain & spinal cord The PNS: nerves & ganglia outside the CNS 12 pairs of cranial nerves (exit brain; mostly from the brain stem) 31 pairs of spinal nerves (exit spinal cord) Most nerves are mixed, comprised of both sensory & motor fibers, but there are some exclusively sensory

FIGURE 8.27

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The Autonomic Nervous System

The autonomic (or visceral) Although a lot of PNS motor system contrasts with components, its not strictly the somatic motor system PNS Efferent neurons: autonomic Regulation of cardiac muscle, motor neurons vs. somatic motor smooth muscle, and glands neurons Control of involuntary Central control: frontal cortex & visceral organs & blood subcortical structures (somatic) vs. hypothalamus, brain stem, & vessels spinal cord (autonomic). Note: Somatic may control a muscle, these lists are not exclusive but autonomic could do the blood vessels

FIGURE 9.1 (10th Ed.)

(sympathetic)

FIGURE 9.1 (10th Ed.)

Autonomic vs. Somatic Motor Systems

Lecture Outline

Somatic Motor Neurons

Always cause stimulatory effect on muscle Release acetylcholine, which binds to nAchR

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

Two Divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions Both divisions consist of: preganglionic neurons (cell bodies in the CNS) and postganglionic neurons (cell bodies in the PNS) The divisions differ in: 1. the origin of preganglionic fibers Sympathetic all middle Parasympathetic top and bottom 2. the location of autonomic ganglia Sympathetic prevertebral ganglia right next to spinal cord Parasympathetic- terminal ganglia; farther away from spinal cord 3. The types of neurotransmitters used by postganglionic neurons *Preganglionic of both release acetylcholine onto nAChR (all autonomic ganglia, all neuromuscular junctions, some CNS pathways). NOTE: nAChR is always excitatory Sympathetic norepi (some epi; rarely acetylcholine) Parasympathetic acetylcholine General functional differences: fight or flight (sympathetic) rest & digest (parasympathetic) *some common functions

Sympathetic Division

Parasympathetic Division
- pupil constriction + - salivation + - airway constriction + + heart rate - digestion +

- intestinal/rectal + movement

From Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd Ed.

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The Sympathetic Division

A sympathetic chain of ganglia (paravertebral ganglia) line either side of the spinal cord Preganglionic axons split from the spinal nerves via the white rami, wherein they enter the paravertebral ganglia These preganglionic fibers branch Some preganglionic fibers synapse with postganglionic neurons within the sympathetic chain of ganglia; these postganglionic axons leave via the gray rami & rejoin the spinal nerves

Some preganglionic fibers simply pass through the sympathetic chain of ganglia, forming splanchnic nerves, and synapse with postganglionic neurons within collateral (prevertebral) ganglia. These postganglionic axons then control trunk organs Some preganglionic fibers also innervate the adrenal medulla, causing it to secrete Epi (and Norepi) into the blood Mass activation: the sympathetic system is typically activated as a single unit

Sympathetic Chain of Ganglia

FIGURE 9.2

Sympathetic Motor Neurons

FIGURE 9.3

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

The Parasympathetic Division

Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in the:

Brain stem

midbrain medulla pons

sacral levels of the spinal cord

Preganglionic fibers synapse with postganglionic fibers in terminal ganglia which lie close to or within target organs

Most parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are not bundled within spinal nerves --> cutaneous effectors & blood vessels associated with skeletal muscle are not parasympatheticallyinnervated Four cranial nerve pairs (including the vagus) carry parasympathetic preganglionic fibers

The Vagus Nerves

The vagus nerves are the primary route of parasympathetic innervation

Heart Lungs Esophagus Stomach Pancreas Liver Intestines

These preganglionic fibers originate in the medulla Multiple branches synapse with postganglionic cells at terminal ganglia within the target tissues

FIGURE 9.6

terminal ganglia in head (parasympathetic division)

* *

*collateral, or prevertebral, ganglia

(sympathetic division)
FIGURE 9.5

Recapping some terminology

ANS motor neurons: direction of information flow relative to peripheral ganglia

Preganglionic neuron Postganglionic neuron

ANS ganglia: anatomical location relative to spinal cord and/or effector organs

Paravertebral ganglia - sympathetic Prevertebral (a.k.a. collateral) ganglia - sympathetic Terminal ganglia - parasympathetic SAME = Sensory - Afferent - Motor - Efferent DAVE = Dorsal - Afferent - Ventral - Efferent

SAME DAVE

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

ANS Function: Neurotransmitters

Preganglionic fibers of both divisions are cholinergic Divisional functions are often antagonistic Target organs display opposing behaviors due to release of different neurotransmitters Sympathetic: fight or flight Most [sympathetic] postganglionic fibers are adrenergic Some postganglionic fibers are cholinergic (those to blood vessels of skeletal muscles and those to sweat glands) Norepi- used more as communicative chemical between CNS and PNS Epi used more as blood borne hormone and utilized during adrenaline rush Parasympathetic: rest & digest Most postganglionic fibers are cholinergic

Preganglionic fiber (sympathetic and parasympathetic) --< nAChR Parasympathetic postganglionic fiber --< mAChR *Sympathetic postganglionic fiber --< 1-, 2-, 1-, 2- adrenergic receptors *Some postganglionic sympathetic fibers that run with spinal nerves are cholinergic; mAChR

FIGURE 9.7

FIGURE 9.9

Sympathetic Adrenergic Innervation

Excitatory in some tissues, inhibitory in others; dependent on receptor type: 1, 2, 1, 2 Excitatory (EPSP, contraction/constriction, or vesicle release): (1) Vasoconstriction in viscera (organs of digestion and/or any organs in the abdominal and thoracic cavities), i.e. reduce blood flow (1) Increase cardiac output/heart rate/contractility (flex heart muscles) Inhibitory (IPSP or relaxation/dilation): (2) Vasodilation in skin (Arrector pili [skin muscle] and blood vessels); Relaxation of arterioles to muscles (increase blood flow); relax digestive muscles (fuck you time to fight, not eat) (2; sometimes mAChR) Relaxation of bronchioles of the lungs

FIGURE 9.10

Sympathetic Adrenergic Innervation

All adrenergic receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) G + GDP --> binds GTP --> G + G Modulation of enzyme activity ( --> changes in ion channel permeability) downstream: kinases get turned on and thus proteins get phosphorylated by aforementioned kinases Mechanisms of action 1-, 2-receptor activation --> increases [cAMP]i --> smooth muscle relaxation (digestive tract dont use energy to digest food; bronchioles: open to allow more oxygen flow) --> increased heart contraction Mechanism: 1. Norepinephrine binds to receptor 2. G-protein subunits dissociate 3. Adenylate cyclase is activated A. ATP binds to cyclic AMP B. cAMP activates unactivated protein kinases 4. Activated protein kinase phosphorylates other proteins and opens ion channel (Ca2+ enters) 1 -receptor activation --> increases [Ca2+]i --> smooth muscle contraction --> vasoconstriction at certain viscera 2 -receptor activation --> complicated

cAMP: -adrenergic receptors

alpha-adrenergic receptor activated G protein dissociates Phospholipase C activated IP3 increases Internal Ca2+ increases after being released from endoplasmic reticulum Activates Ca/Calmodulin complex Activates other kinases Downstream effects: Glycogen Glucose-1-phosphate Glucose-6-phosphate Free glucose

cAMP: -adrenergic receptors

Beta-adrenergic receptor activated G protein dissociates Adenylate cyclase activated cAMPi increases Activates protein kinase A Phosphorylates other proteins Downstream effects: Glycogen Glucose-1-phosphate Glucose-6-phosphate Free glucose

G protein-coupled receptors

From Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd Ed.

FIGURE 6.31

-adrenergic signaling

FIGURE 7.31

Parasympathetic Cholinergic Innervation

Postganglionic parasympathetic fibers release ACh Effects at target tissues can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on mAChR subtype (all GPCRs) M3, M5 activation, EPSP--> opening of Ca channels and closing of K+ channels --> increased [Ca]i and decreased [K+]i --> Depolarization --> EPSP; Contraction of smooth muscles in digestive track; or increased gland secretions M2 activation. IPSP --> Via vagus, indirectly opens K+ channels --> Hyperpolarization of heart cells --> IPSP --> Decreased heart rate

Nicotinic vs. muscarinic receptors

FIGURE 9.11

Vagal innervation of heart via M2-receptors

FIGURE 7.27

Parasympathetic cholinergic innervation via vagus --> M2-type muscarinic receptors --> indirectly opens K+ channels --> hyperpolarization of heart muscle cells --> slowing of heart rate

Lecture Outline

The CNS and PNS Spinal and cranial nerves The autonomic nervous system (ANS) Two major divisions of the ANS

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Neurotransmitters & post-synaptic receptors of the ANS Autonomic regulation of internal organs

Autonomic innervation of organs

Most visceral organs are dually-innervated

Antagonistic (opposites; most common) Complementary (similar effects) Cooperative (synergistic effects) Adrenal medulla Arrector pili muscles (skin) Sweat glands (skin) Most blood vessels

Some organs are only sympathetically-innervated

Central control of autonomic systems

Control of ANS by the CNS

Cortex Limbic system & hypothalamus Brain stem reticular formation: respiratory centers Medulla oblongata: control centers for cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, & reproductive systems

From Purves et al., Neuroscience, 3rd Ed.

Smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, glands