PHYSIOLOGY BLOCK 1

Lecture: 11 - EA: Autonomic Nervous System Date: August 24, 2015

Lecturer: Antonio C.Pasco III, MD, FPSP Trans Team: Guevara, Henaku-Larbi, Inciong, Jutiz

Topic Outline o “ACTUALITY, when you give glucose to the body: insulin
I. Questions increases; glucagon: decreases”
o On the ACTUAL EXPERIMENT: GLUCAGON levels were
II. Overview and Answers to the Experimental
Analysis Case also measured; however, the effect of insulin was the one
III. The Autonomic Nervous System given significance.
A. Chemical Classification
 Phentolamine - is a reversible non-selective alpha-
B. Organ System Effects adrenergic antagonist. Its primary action is
vasodilation due to α1 blockade.
LEGEND  Propranolol - is a sympatholytic non-selective beta
PPT Trans Audio Trans Book Trans blocker.
I. Questions  Pancreas - composed of two types of tissue (1) acini,
secrete digestive juices into duodenum and the (2)
1. Theoretically, describe the effects of acetylcholine on islets of Langerhans, which secrete insulin and
glandular secretions including the pancreas? How about glucagon directly into the blood.
norepinephrine? (2 points)  Insulin - is synthesized in the beta cells by the usual
cell machinery for protein synthesis.
2. Based on the results, describe the following: (2 points)
a. The effect of exogenous glucose on insulin levels
b. The effect of pretreatment of phentolamine on insulin
secretion
c. The effect of pretreatment of propranolol on insulin
secretion.
d. The effect of pretreatment of combined phentolamine and
propranolol on insulin secretion.

3. Based on the results, infer then make a valid conclusion or

observation regarding: (6 points)
a. The effect of pancreatic gland alpha receptor activation on
insulin secretion. Based on the result give a plausible
explanation why.
b. The effect of pancreatic gland beta receptor activation on
insulin secretion. Based on the result give a plausible
explanation why.
c. Which adrenoreceptor is predominant in the pancreas?
Based on the result give a plausible explanation why.

Figure 2. Islet of Langerhans

 THREE CONDITIONS OF THE EXPERIMENT:

1) Pretreatment of both phentolamine (alpha-blocker) and
propranolol (beta-blocker)
– both are receptors of the sympathetic nervous system
2) Pretreatment of phentolamine alone
3) Pretreatment of propranolol alone

B. Answers:

1. EFFECT OF GIVING ACETYLCHOLINE ON THE

PANCREATIC GLANDS:
 Increase in watery, copious secretion

EFFECT OF GIVING NOREPINEPHRINE ON THE

PANCREATIC GLANDS:
 Slight increase in secretion, BUT secretion is
CONCENTRATED;
 Vasoconstricton  decrease in secretion
(sympathetic and parasympathetic, somehow
COMPLEMENTARY: watery VS concentrated secretion,
respectively)
II. Overview and Answers to the Experimental Analysis
Case 2. Insulin levels obtained afterwards:
A. Overview a. 1st Graph: CLEAR CIRCLES: graph for insulin only (no
pretreatment)
 “Easy EA because of the procedure.” by Dr. Pasco - Increase of glucose  Increases insulin
 Experiment focuses on the pancreatic glands  pancreatic b. 2nd Graph: DARK CIRCLES: Phentolamine only
excretion (insulin). - Decrease
 Calculated one vein (serve as conduit for injection) and one c. 2nd Graph: CLEAR CIRCLES: Propranolol only
artery (for sample collection). - Decrease
 EFFECT OF GLUCOSE ON PANCREATIC SECRETION: d. 1st Graph: DARK CIRCLES: pretreatment of Phentolamine and
loading dose of glucose (continuous) – exogenous; whether Propranolol
increase or decrease in insulin. - Increase over that of glucose alone

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3. Conclusion:
a. EFFECT OF ALPHA-RECEPTOR ACTIVATION ON
INSULIN SECRETION BASED ON RESULTS:
-“ Since we give a blocker, and it increases the secretion of
insulin, it is the opposite of the blocker. We can say that
insulin secretion actually DECREASES when you activate
your ALPHA-RECEPTORS”
 THEORETICAL REASON WHEN YOU BLOCK THE ALPHA
RECEPTORS: it stimulates the beta-receptors.
b. EFFECT OF BETA-RECEPTOR ACTIVATION ON INSULIN
SECRETION BASED ON RESULTS:
- INCREASE insulin secretion
 BETA BLOCKER ALONE: decrease in insulin secretion 
BETA RECEPTOR activation actually INCREASES insulin
secretion.
 THEORETICAL: beta blocked; alpha stimulated  decrease
secretion
c. Predominant adrenoreceptor in the pancreas is the ALPHA
RECEPTOR
 PROPRANOLOL GRAPH (beta blocker): decrease in insulin Figure 3. Secretion by Beta Cells by Glucose
PHENTOLAMINE GRAPH (alpha blocker): increase in
insulin (activating beta  increases insulin) * Increase in glucose will increase the secretion of insulin (primary
control)
 “ALPHA DECREASES insulin levels; BETA INCREASES
insulin levels” SECRETION BY BETA CELLS BY OTHER STIMULI:
o “BLOCK one; the OPPOSITE will occur”
 Beta Adrenergic
 THEORETICALLY: inactivate one; activate the other
o increases cAMP  increases protein kinase  initiates and
 BETA BLOCKER predominant effect: ALPHA-RECEPTOR induces insulin secretion
ACTIVATION  Alpha Adrenergic
o decreases cAMP  decreases protein kinase  decreases
ALPHA BLOCKER predominant effect: BETA-RECEPTOR
insulin secretion
ACTIVATION
“when you graph the beta, no effect; when you graph the alpha,
THERE IS AN EFFECT!” (effect is similar to blocking of alpha
in the result)
 THEORETICALLY: when both are blocked, more of the
parasympathetic response is produced (because no
norepinephrine enters).
 GRAPH OF PHENTOLAMINE IS VERY SIMILAR TO
GRAPH WHEN BOTH ARE BLOCKED (similar to blocking
the alpha ONLY)
 ARE WE THEORETICAL WITH OUR RESULTS?
- Our experiment is theoretical, still other factors that affect
insulin secretion (EA focused only on the receptors).

III. The Autonomic Nervous System

A. Table 1. Chemical Classification

Cholinergic Adrenergic ALPHA ADRENERGY BETA ADRENERGY
Nervous System Nervous System
Type of Fibers Cholinergic Adrenergic
Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine Norepinephrine
Nicotinic and
Receptors Alpha and Beta DECREASES CYCLIC INCREASES CYCLIC
Muscarinic
ADENOSINE ADENOSINE
B. Organ System Effects MONOPHOSPAHATE MONOPHOSPAHATE
– Glands: Nasal, lacrimal, parotid, submandibular, gastric,
pancreatic glands
1. Sympathetic (thoracolumbar): Vasoconstriction and slight INCREASES PROTEIN
DECREASES
or concentrated secretion
- MOSTLY norepinephrine (adrenergic) (alpha & beta PROTEIN KINASE KINASE
receptors)
- Alpha receptors: thick secretion of saliva
- Beta receptors: increased amylase secretion DECREASES INSULIN INCREASES INSULIN
2. Parasympathetic (craniosacral): Copious secretion SECRETION SECRETION
- Salivary glands: increased watery secretion
- Longer fiber Figure 5. Effect of Autonomic Nervous System on Insulin
- acetylcholine (cholinergic fibers) secretion

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IV. References
 Dr. Pasco’s ppt
 Guyton 30th edition
 Bloom, S.R. & Edwards, A.V., “The role of the sympathetic
system in the control of Insulin release in response to
hyperglycaemia in conscious calves.” J. Physiology (1985)
362, 311-317

V. Review Questions

VI. QUIZ

1. What are the 2 types of tissue of the pancreas?

2. Which of the following is an effect of the beta receptor upon
sympathetic activation?
a. thick secretion of saliva
b. increased watery secretion
c. increased amylase secretion
3. True or False: Phentolamine is an irreversible non-selective
alpha-adrenergic antagonist
4. True or False: Activation of beta-receptor will increase
insulin secretion.
5. True or False: Alpha adrenergy will decrease cyclic AMP.

Answers:

1. Acini, secrete digestive juices into duodenum and the islets

of Langerhans, which secrete insulin and glucagon directly
into the blood
2. C.
3. False, irreversible  reversible
4. True
5. True

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