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BIMM118
Autonomic Nervous System
BIMM118
Autonomic Nervous System
• Note:
Somatic nervous
system has no
ganglia!
BIMM118
Autonomic Nervous System
Transmitters:
• Acetylcholine:
– ALL preganglionic neurons
– ALL parasympathetic postganglionic neurons
• Norepinephrine (= Noradrenalin):
– MOST sympathetic postganglionic neurons
– Exceptions: Sweat glands (Acetylcholine);
Renal arteries (Dopamine)
• Epinephrine (= Adrenalin):
– Adrenal medulla upon sympathetic impulses
(no ganglion!)
BIMM118
Autonomic Nervous System
Receptors:
• Cholinergic Receptors:
– Muscarinic (M): at the target organ
named after activation by Muscarine
(poison of Amanita muscaria)
– Nicotinic (N):
ganglia, motor endplate, medulla
named after activation by Nicotine
• Adrenergic Receptors:
– α, β − receptors
BIMM118
Cholinergic System
Cholinergic receptors:
• Muscarinic receptors:
Hetrotrimeric G protein-coupled
– CNS, gastric mucosa: M1
– Cardiac: M2
– Glandular/Smooth muscle: M3
• Nicotinic receptors:
Ion channel-coupled
– Muscle type (motor endplate)
– Ganglion type
– CNS type
= Cholinomimetics = Parasympathomimetics
• Direct Parasympathomimetics:
– Have affinity for M (and/or N receptors) => mimic AcCholine
– Act mostly on the M type receptors (not subtype selective)
Exception: Nicotine, (Muscle N type only: Tubocurarine,
Succinylcholine)
• Indirect Parasympathomimetics :
– Inhibit the activity of Acetylcholinesterase => [AcCholine] increased
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Agonists
Muscarinic Parasympathomimetics
The extremely short half-life of AcCholine
makes it therapeutically useless =>
• Carbachol:
– Not hydrolyzed by AcCholinesterase
– Also activates N receptors
• Bethanechol:
– Not hydrolyzed by AcCholinesterase
– Does not activate N receptors
Bethanechol
– Lacks cardiovascular effects
– Treatment of urinary retention
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Agonists
Muscarinic
Parasympathomimetics
Pilocarpine:
– Chief alkaloid in Pilocarpus jaborandi
– Does not activate N receptors
– Used to treat glaucoma
Ciliary muscle contraction=>increased outflow
of aqueous humor => reduction in intraocular
pressure
• Muscarine:
– Chief alkaloid in Amanita muscaria
– No therapeutic application
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Agonists
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
=> Extend half-life of AcCholine => trigger activation of both M and N receptors
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Agonists
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Reversible Inhibitors:
Used to treat Glaucoma (topical) and
Myasthenia Gravis (systemic)
• Carbamates:
– Physostigmine (only topical)
from Physostigma venenosum
(= Calabar bean; West Africa)
– Neostigmine
• Quarternary alcohols:
– Edrophonium
Used to diagnose Myasthenia Gravis
(very short half-life)
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Agonists
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
• “Horny goat weed”
– Epimedium sagittatum
– Acts as AcCh-esterase inhibitor (active ingredient unknown)
– Indirect stimulation of vascular M3 receptors triggers NO production => vasodilation
(action similar to Sildenafil (Viagra®), which potentiates NO effects)
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Agonists
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Irreversible Inhibitors:
No medical application!
• Organophosphates:
– Insecticides
• Malathion
• Parathion
– Nerve gases
• Sarin
• Tabun
• Soman
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Antagonists
= Cholinolytics = Parasympatholytics
Muscarinic Parasympatholytics
Atropine
Chief alkaloid in Atropa belladonna: CNS-stimulant (leaves were used as “asthma cigarettes”)
Hyoscine (=Scopolamine)
Chief alkaloid in Datura stramonium: CNS-depressant => antiemetic (motion sickness)
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Antagonists
Muscarinic Parasympatholytics
Clinical applications:
• Atropine:
– before anesthesia: prevent hypersecretion of bronchial mucus
– Bradycardy
– Acetylcholinesterase-inhibitor and mushroom poisoning
– Ophtalmology (eye exams)
• Scopolamine:
– Motion sickness (as patches)
• Ipratropium:
– Inhalation for asthma and bronchitis
• Pirenzepine:
– Peptic ulcers: selectively inhibits M1 receptors (gastric mucosa) =>
reduced gastric acid production
• N-Butyl-scopolamine:
– Spasmolytic (intestinal or menstrual cramps)
BIMM118
Cholinergic System - Antagonists
Nicotinic Parasympatholytics
Two classes (both act as neuromuscular blockers => muscle relaxants):
Nicotinic Parasympatholytics
Nondepolarizing blockers
• Curare:
– Plant derived arrow poison in S-America
– Active ingredient is d-Tubocurarine
Nicotinic Parasympatholytics
Nondepolarizing blockers
Synthetic quarternary ammonium compounds
– Replaced tubocurarine as muscle relaxants
– No or little histamine release
Nicotinic Parasympatholytics
Depolarizing blockers
• Succinylcholine = Suxamethonium
– “dimeric” Acetylcholine
– Acts agonistic like AcCh
– NOT hydrolyzed by AcCh-esterase (only by plasma-
esterases)
– Initial depolarization triggers muscle twitching
– Followed by persistant depolarization (~10min)
– Used for brief procedures (e.g. intubation; shock therapy)
BIMM118
Cholinergic System