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Lecture

Pharmacology Basics: Autonomic Nervous System

Description

This lecture covers the effects of norepinephrine and adrenaline on the heart and smooth muscle cells, the classification of cholinergic and adrenergic receptors, and the main sympathomimetics and sympatholytics. It also explains the mechanism of action of cholinesterase inhibitors, desensitization of adrenergic receptors, and the clinical uses of sympathomimetics. Additionally, it discusses the role of amphetamines in activating the sympathetic system, therapeutic uses of muscarinic agonists, and poisoning examples. The lecture delves into the physiological effects of acetylcholine and catecholamines, the pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system, and the action of botulinum toxin.

Instructor

Romain Zufferey

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Biology

Cell biology: Receptors

Related concepts (32)

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, or mAChRs, are acetylcholine receptors that form G protein-coupled receptor complexes in the cell membranes of certain neurons and other cells. They play several roles, including acting as the main end-receptor stimulated by acetylcholine released from postganglionic fibers in the parasympathetic nervous system. Muscarinic receptors are so named because they are more sensitive to muscarine than to nicotine.

Acetylcholine receptor

An acetylcholine receptor (abbreviated AChR) is an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Like other transmembrane receptors, acetylcholine receptors are classified according to their "pharmacology," or according to their relative affinities and sensitivities to different molecules. Although all acetylcholine receptors, by definition, respond to acetylcholine, they respond to other molecules as well.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, or nAChRs, are receptor polypeptides that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Nicotinic receptors also respond to drugs such as the agonist nicotine. They are found in the central and peripheral nervous system, muscle, and many other tissues of many organisms. At the neuromuscular junction they are the primary receptor in muscle for motor nerve-muscle communication that controls muscle contraction.

Nicotinic agonist

A nicotinic agonist is a drug that mimics the action of acetylcholine (ACh) at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The nAChR is named for its affinity for nicotine. Examples include nicotine (by definition), acetylcholine (the endogenous agonist of nAChRs), choline, epibatidine, lobeline, varenicline and cytisine. Nicotine has been known for centuries for its intoxicating effect. It was first isolated in 1828 from the tobacco plant by German chemists Posselt and Reimann.

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), formerly referred to as the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the nervous system that supplies internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervous system is a control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions, such as the heart rate, its force of contraction, digestion, respiratory rate, pupillary response, urination, and sexual arousal. This system is the primary mechanism in control of the fight-or-flight response.

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