INSTITUTE-UIPS

DEPARTMENT- Bachelor of PHARMACY

Subject Name and Code
Pharmacology-I-PST-294

TOPIC OF PRESENTATION

General Introduction of Autonomic

DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER
Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
Why Study the Autonomic Nervous System?

Pathophysiology Medicinal
Chemistry

Therapeutics ANS Pharmacology

Disease State
Management
 Organization of The Nervous System

Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System Somatic Nervous System

Sympathetic Parasympathetic
How do we define neuron types in the ANS?
Parasympathetic Sympathetic
HO
O CH 3

CH 3 C O CH 2 CH 2 N CH 3
HO CH CH 2 NH 2
Acetylcholine CH 3
OH

HO Norepinephrine
CH 3 (Noradrenaline)
CH 2 N CH 3 HO
H 3C O
CH 3
Muscarine
HO CH CH 2 NH
N CH OH CH
3 3

N
Epinephrine
(Adrenaline)
Nicotine
 Parasympathetic Ganglionic Synapse

Ca 2+ Acetylcholinesterase

Na+

ACH

a ba
Action Potential
Nicotinic
Receptor
Na +

Preganglionic neuron Postganglionic neuron

 Parasympathetic Organ Synapse

Acetylcholinesterase

Ca 2+
Effector
Organ
Na+
K+
G

Action Potential
ACH
Muscarinic
Receptor

Postganglionic neuron
 Summary of parasympathetic neurons
and synapses

Preganglionic neurons
• Long
• Synapse with postganglionic neurons at or near organ
• Release acetylcholine (ACH) to activate nicotinic receptors on postganglionic neurons

Postganglionic neurons
• Short
• Synapse on the target organ
• Release acetylcholine (ACH) to activate muscarinic receptors on the target organ
 Sympathetic Ganglionic Synapse

Ca 2+ Acetylcholinesterase

Na+

ACH

a ba
Action Potential
Nicotinic
Receptor
Na +

Preganglionic neuron Postganglionic neuron

 Sympathetic Organ Synapse

Ca 2+
Effector
Organ
Na+
G

NE
Action Potential

Adrenergic
Receptor

Postganglionic neuron
 Summary of sympathetic neurons
and synapses

Preganglionic neurons
• Short
• Synapse with postganglionic neurons near spinal cord
• Release acetylcholine (ACH) to activate nicotinic receptors on postganglionic neurons

Postganglionic neurons
• Long
• Synapse on the target organ
• Release norepinephrine to activate adrenergic receptors on target organs
Exceptions in the sympathetic nervous system:

• Sweat glands:
» Postganglionic neurons involved with
stress-related excretion release
norepinephrine (“sweaty palms”)
» Postganglionic neurons involved with
thermoregulation release acetylcholine
Exceptions in the sympathetic nervous system:

• Kidneys:
» Postganglionic neurons to the smooth muscle
of the renal vascular bed release dopamine

• Adrenal gland:
» Preganglionic neurons do not synapse in the
paraverterbral sympathetic ganglion
» Preganglionic neurons synapse directly on the
adrenal gland, release acetylcholine, and
activate nicotinic receptors on the adrenal
gland
» Adrenal glands release epinephrine into
systemic circulation Most postganglionic sympathetic
neurons release what
neurotransmitter?
How do drugs influence the ANS?

• Mimic or block the effects of the two primary neurotransmitters, Acetylcholine and
Norepinephrine/Epinephrine

• Drugs that mimic neurotransmitters are referred to as “receptor agonists”

These drugs activate receptors

• Drugs that block neurotransmitters are referred to as “receptor antagonists”

 These drugs block the endogenous neurotransmitters from activating receptors
Classification of drugs affecting the ANS
• Parasympathetic nervous system
Mimic acetylcholine = cholinergic = muscarinic agonists = parasympathomimetic

Block acetylcholine = anticholinergic = muscarinic antagonist = parasympatholytic

• Sympathetic nervous system

Mimic norepinephrine = adrenergic = adrenergic agonist = sympathomimetic

Block norepinephrine = antiadrenergic = adrenergic antagonist = sympatholytic

References
• Rang H. P., Dale M. M., Ritter J. M., Flower R. J., Rang and Dale’s
Pharmacology, Churchil Livingstone Elsevier,2004,12-15
• Katzung B. G., Masters S. B., Trevor A. J., Basic and clinical
pharmacology, Tata Mc Graw-Hill,2001,15
• Lippincot, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics,32-50
• K. D.Tripathi. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, JAYPEE Brothers
Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi. 2004,31-39
THANK YOU

For queries
Email: pradeep.pharma@cumail.in