AUTONOMIC INNERVATION

GANGLION = A COLLECTION OF NEURONAL CELL BODIES OUTSIDE THE CNS.

AUTONOMIC MOTOR NEURONS RELEASE ACH OR NE

=>note: first of the 2 motor neurons in any autonomic motor pathway is called a preganglionic
neuron, itc cell body is in the brain or spinal cord and its axon exits the CNS as a part of a cranial or
spinal nerve and extends to an autonomic ganglion, where it synapses with a postganglionic neuron
the second neuron in the autonomic motor pathway.
Its cell bodies and dendrites are located in an autonomic ganglion, where it forms synapses with 1 or
more preganglionic axons. Thus preganglionic (myelinated) neurons convey nerve impulses from the
CNS to autonomic ganglia, and postganglionic (unmyelinated) neurons relay the impulses from the
autonomic ganglia to the visceral effectors

PARASYMPATHETIC INNERVATION

->parasympathetic innervations of bronchial smooth muscle predominates>

Parasympathetic ganglia are embedded in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles, and the
postganglionic fibres innervate airway smooth muscle, vascular smooth muscle and glands.

3 types of muscarinic (M) receptors are present.

M3 receptors are found on bronchial smooth muscle and glands, and mediate bronchoconstriction
and mucus secretion

Sympathetic innervations:
sympathetic nerves innervate tracheobronchial blood vessels and glands, but not human airway
smooth muscle. Beta-adrenergic receptors are, however, abundantly expressed on human airway
smooth muscle (as well as mast cells, epithelium, glands and alveoli) and beta agonists relax
bronchial smooth muscle, ihibit mediator release from mast cells and increased mucociliary
clearance. Virtually all beta-adrenoceptors in airways are of beta2 type.

I.E. EFFERENT PATHWAYS

*PARASYMPATHETIC nerves cause bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion through m3 type
muscarinic receptors.
*sympathetic nerves innervate blood vessels and glands, but not airway smooth muscle.
*beta 2-adrenoceptor agnoists relax airway smooth muscle

*inhibitory non-noradrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) nerves relax airway smooth muscle by

releasing NO and vasoactive intestinal peptide.

Cholinergic neurons release the neurotransmitter Ach. In the ANS, the cholinergiv neurons include 1)
all sympathetic and parasympathetic preganglionic neurons 2) sympathetic postganglionic neurons
that innervate most sweat glands and 3) all parasympathetic post ganglionic neurons.
Ach is stored in synaptic vesicles and released by exocytosis. It then diffuses across the synaptic cleft
and inds with specific cholinergic rcptors, integral membrane proteins in the postsynaptic plasma
membrane.

2 types of cholinergic receptors are 1) nicotinic receptors *present in plasma membrane of dendrites
and cell bodies of sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic neurons and in the motor end
plate at the neuromuscular junction. They are so named becaue nictonine mimcs te action of Ach by
binding to these receptors

Muscarinic receptors – present in the plasma membranes of all effectors (smooth muscle, cardiac
muscles and glands) innervated by parasympathetic postganglionic axons.
So named because a mushroom poison called muscarine mimics the actions of Ach by binding to
them.

Nicotine does not activate muscarinic receptors and vice versa, but Ach can activate both types of
cholinergic receptors

ADRENERGICI NEURONS AND RECEPTORS

-In the ANS, adrenergic neurons release NOREPINEPHRINE (NE).

Most sympathetic postganglionic neurons are adrenergic.
Like Ach, NE is synthesized and stored in synaptic cesicle and released by exocytyosis.
Molecules of NE diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to specific adrenergic receptors on the
postsynaptic membrane, causing eith excitation or inhibition of the effector cell.

Adrenegic receptors bind both norepinephrine and epinephrine. The NE can be either released as a
neurotransmitter by sympathetic postganglionic neurons, or released as a hormone by the adrenal
medullae.
Epinephrine is rleased as a hormone.
The 2 main t ypes of adrenergic recpetorzs are ALPHA RECEPTORS na BETA RECEPRTOS, which are
found on visceral effectors innervated by most sympathetic postganglionic axons.
These are further classified into alpa 1, 2 and beta 1,2,3, based on specific responses theuy elicit and
by their selective binding of drugs that activate or block them

Although there are some exceptions, activation of alpha 1 and beta 1 receptors generally produces
excitation; activation of alpha 2 and beta 2 receptors causes inhibition of the effector tissues.

Beta3 only present on cells of brown adipose tissue where their activation causes thermmogenesis.

Norepinephrine stimulates alpha recpetors more strongly than beta receptors, epinephrine is a
potent stimulator of both

B2 adrenergic receptors are found in smooth muscle in the walls of airways, in blood vessels that
serve the heart, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue and live; and in the walls of visceral organs such as
the urinary bladder. Upon activation causes dilation of airways, vasodilation andr elaxation of organ
walls.

AUTONOMIC TONE (regulated by hypothalamus) is the balance between sympathetic and

parasympathetic nervous systems.