Autonomic (vegetative) nervous system
Prof. Dr. Szabolcs Kéri
University of Szeged, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology
2018
VEGETATIVE or AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
Visceral motor innervation of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands.
functions:→ homeostasis: constancy of internal environment→ allostasis: change of the internal environment (e.g., adaptation to challenges)
parts:→ sympathetic (energy mobilization)→ parasympathetic (energy conservation)→ enteral (gastrointestinal system motor coordination)
Brainstem nucleiSpinal cord
ANS at glance:
Preganglionic axon
Autonomic ganglion
Postganglionic axon
Visceral effector
organ
Cortex (prefrontal region)
Limbic system(emotions)
Hypothalamus(integrative
role)
Reticularformation
(vital function)
Spinal cord(autonomic
reflexes)
PARASYMPATHETIC 1:Cranial division
Ganglions
PARASYMPATHETIC 2:Sacral division
SYMPATHETIC: Thoracolumbar division
Motor endplate:nerve ending at skeletal muscleNOT A PART of ANS
ANS: visceromotor/secretion system: smooth/cardiac muscle, glands Skeletomotor system: skeletal muscle
A – epinephrine, NA – norepinephrine, Ach – acetylcholine, N – nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; M – muscarinic acetylcholine receptor; alpha-beta: adrenergic receptor subtypes; MVV – adrenal medulla
Preganglionic fibers
Postganglionic fibers
Sympathetic nervous system
1. Preganglionic neuron: thoracic – upper lumbar spinal cord, lateral horn
- Preganglionic axons: B fibers (moderately myelinated, 3 μm, 3-15 m/s)
- White ramus (ramus communicans albicans): preganglionic axon → ventral root → paravertebral ganglion (T1-L2)
2. Ganglionic neuron: para-/prevertebral ganglia (ggl. celiacum/mesentericum)
- Postganglionic axons: C fibers (non-myelinated, 0.5-1.5 μm, 0.25-1.5 m/s)
- Gray ramus (ramus communicans griseus): postganglionic axons run to peripheral nerves
Structure of the sympathetic nervous system
Visceral afferents
Ggl. spinale
Peripheral nerve
White ramus
Gray ramus
Paravertebralganglion
Prevertebralganglion
Postganglionic fiber
Preganglionic fiber
Postganglionic fiber
Lat.horn
Neurotransmitters: NOREPINEPHRINE, EPINEPHRINE (co-transmitter: neuropeptid Y, somatostatin)
Release:
- postganglionic terminals (norepinephrine - transmitter)
- adrenal medulla (mainly epinephrine – hormone)
Elimination:
- presynaptic reuptake – monoamine-transporter (Na+-symport)
- metabolism: 1. mitochondria MAO (Monoamine Oxidase)
A – norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin
B – dopamine
2. cortex: COMT (Catechol-O-Methyl-Transferase)
endproduct: 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenil-ethylglikol/mandelic acid
Transmitters of the sympathetic nervous system
Tyrosine
Tyrosinehydroxylase
Dihydro-phenyl-alanine (DOPA)
Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase
DOPA-decarboxylase
Norepinephrine
N -methyltransferase
Epinephrine
Dopamine
Adrenergic receptors:
α1 (IP3/DAG): postsynaptic (e.g. peripheral vasoconstriction)α2 (cAMP↓): pre-/postsynaptic (presynaptic autoreceptor, negative feedback)
ß1 (cAMP↑): equal affinity to epinephrine and norepinephrine, mainly excitatory (e.g. positive cardiac effects) ß2 (cAMP↑): higher affinity to epinephrine, mainly inhibitory (e.g. peripheral vasodilatation)ß3 (cAMP↑): adiposus tissue, striated muscle (thermogenesis)
Cardiovascular:
- Heart: positive chrono-, dromo-, inotropic effect (ß1)
- Blood vessels:a. mild activation:
norepinephrine – vasoconstriction (α1) = epinephrine – vasodilatation (ß2) → no changes in total peripheral resistance and blood pressure
b. increased activation:vasoconstriction > vasodilatation →↑total peripheral resistance and blood pressure
Cannon’s alarm reaction (stress reaction)
Other effects:- Behavioral and psychological (anxiety, fight or flight) (α1, ß2)
- Motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract↓ (α2)
- Bronchial dilatation (ß2)
- Dilated pupils (α1)
- Piloerection (α1)
Metabolic – energy mobilization:- Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis↑ (α1, ß2)
- Pancreas ß-cell insulin secretion↓ (α2)
- Lipolysis↑(ß3)
The adrenal medulla
Adrenalin
Medulla
Epinephrine (80%),norepinephrine
Capillary
Chromaffin cells(pheochromocytes)
Preganglionicfibers
Part of the sympathetic nervous system: modified ganglion + endocrine gland
Chromaffin cells: • Pericapillary cells in medulla,
paraganglionic region• Receiving cholinergic preganglionic
fibers• Synthesis, storage, and release of
epinephrine (co-transmitter: neuropeptid Y)
- Epinephrine to target cells via blood circulation (hormone), degraded by tissue COMT/MAO-A- Alarm reaction (Cannon): physical work, stress, pain, drop in blood pressure, hypoglycemia
Non-conventional transmission in the ANS
I. Sympathetic cholinergic innervation: sympathetic postganglionic fibers innervating sweat glands and their vessels use acetylcholine as a transmitter
II. Non-adrenergic-non-cholinergic transmission: synaptic activity in ANS independent of acetylcholine and catecholamines • Independent neurotransmitter: Neuropeptid Y, VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal
Polypeptide), ATP• VIP + acetylcholine: exocrine glands (↑ secretion/blood flow)• VIP + NO: relaxation of smooth muscle (e.g. circular smooth muscle in the
gastrointestinal tract)
Parasympathetic nervous system
Preganglionic neurons:
A. Autonomic nuclei of the brainstem
→ Edinger-Westphal (III)
→ n. salivatorius superior (VII/V), inferior (IX)
→ n. dorsalis nervi vagi (X) (secretomotor)
→ n. ambiguus (X) (visceromotor)
B. Sacral region
→ Sacral autonomic nucleus
Edinger-Westphal
Salivatorynuclei
Dorsal motor nucleus of vagus
Nucleusambiguus
Ganglionic neurons:
I. „Head” ganglia:
1. ggl. ciliare (Edinger-Westphal) →m. sphincter pupillae, m. ciliaris
2. ggl. pterygopalatinum (n. salivatorius superior) → glandula lacrimalis, nasalis mucosa
3. ggl. submandibulare (n. salivatorius superior) → glandulasubmandibularis/sublingualis
4. ggl. oticum (n. salivatorius inferior) → glandula parotidea
II. Ganglia in chest, abdomen, pelvis, proximity/wall of target organs (n. dorsalis nervi vagi, n. ambiguus)
Transmitter: ACETYLCHOLINE (Ach) (co-transmitter: enkephalin, substance P)
Receptor:
- ganglionic neuron: nicotinic (+M1)
- target organ: muscarinic (M) – inhibited by: atropine
M1 (IP3/DAG): gastric acid↑, exocrine glands↑, brain (memory, attention, M4-5), ganglia
M2 (cAMP↓, K+ channel): heart (negative chrono- és dromotropic effect)
M3 (IP3/DAG, NO↑): smooth muscle (direct effect: contraction, NO-effect: relaxation), glands
Neurotransmission in the parasympathetic nervous system
The synapse between preganglionic fibers and ganglionic neurons
Preganglionic neuron
Nicotinic
M1Peptide
Ganglionicneuron
Early EPSP Late EPSP Peptidergic EPSP/IPSP
VIP, GRP
VIP – Vasoactive Intestinal PolypeptideGRP – Gastrin Releasing Peptide
Postsynaptic action potential
Vegetative meshwork: • A network of Schwann-cells in which the terminals
of postganglionic fibers are embedded• A single fibber innervates thousands of target cells
(en passant synapse)
Varicosities: • Bulbous enlargements of postganglionic fibers
(„strings of beads”) with vesicles and mitochondria• Inter-varicosities: thin regions linking varicosities
with cytoskeleton• The transmitter is released from the varicosities
and diffuses to target cells
Synapses of the postganglionic fibers
Vesicle:acetylcholine
Receptor
ReceptorSmooth muscle
Contraction
M1/M3
Varicosities
Autonomic innervation of exocrine glands
Phosphorylation of structural and regulatory proteins
ACH
VIP
Enzymes and mucin secretion in the ducts
Fusion of granules with the apicalmembrane
Parasympathetic:acetylcholine (ACH) and VIP
Choline reuptakeTransporter (2)
1. Acetylcholinesterase: degradation of acetylcholine into acetate and choline in the synaptic cleft (inhibited by toxic organophosphates)2. Choline reuptake (Na+-symport)3. Acetyl-CoA + choline in presynaptic terminal (choline-acetyltransferase)4. Vesicular acetylcholine transporter (H+-antiport)
Other parasympathetic transmitters:VIP – vasodilatation, glandular secretionNO – smooth muscle relaxationATP – smooth muscle contractionGRP – peptidergic EPSP in gangliaEnkephalin – peptidergic IPSP
Vesicular transzporter (4)
Cholinergic synapse
Definition: Physiological consequence of spontaneous, low-frequency, baseline activity of vegetative fibers
(1) Skin and vessels of skeletal muscle: sympathetic tone- acute spinal shock → blood pressure drop
(2) Heart: parasympathetic tone
• tone is decreased during inspiration → heart rate↑
• denervation: heart rate↑
(3) Gastrointestinal: parasympathetic tone
• tone is decreased during starvation, chronic stress, and in elderly → constipation
Vegetative tone