Table of neurotransmitter actions in the ANS

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This is a table of neurotransmitter actions in the ANS (autonomic nervous system). It includes the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the visual system, the digestive system, the endocrine system, the urinary system, the reproductive system, and the integumentary system. Both effects of the sympathetic nervous system (adrenergic) and parasympathetic nervous system (muscarinic) are included.

Circulatory system

=[[Heart]]=

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

cardiac outputβ1, (β2): increasesM2: decreases
SA node: heart rate (chronotropic)β1, (β2):{{Cite book|author=H. P. Rang|title=Pharmacology 5th ed.|last2=M. Maureen Dale|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2003|isbn=978-0-443-07145-4|editor-last=H. P. Rang|page=127}} increasesM2: decreases
Atrial cardiac muscle: contractility (inotropic)β1, (β2): increasesM2: decreases
at AV nodeβ1:
increases conduction
increases cardiac muscle automaticity
M2:
decreases conduction
Atrioventricular block
Ventricular cardiac muscleβ1, (β2):
increases contractility (inotropic)
increases cardiac muscle automaticity
---

=[[Blood vessels]]=

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

vascular smooth muscle in generalα1:{{cite book |last=Costanzo |first=Linda S. |title=Physiology |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |location=Hagerstwon, MD |year=2007 |page=[https://archive.org/details/physiology00cost_0/page/37 37] |isbn=978-0-7817-7311-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/physiology00cost_0/page/37 }} contracts; β2: relaxesM3: relaxes
renal arteryα1:{{cite journal |pmid=6270306 |year=1981 |last1=Schmitz |first1=JM |last2=Graham |first2=RM |last3=Sagalowsky |first3=A |last4=Pettinger |first4=WA |title=Renal alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors: Biochemical and pharmacological correlations |volume=219 |issue=2 |pages=400–6 |journal=The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics}} constricts---
larger coronary arteriesα1 and α2:{{cite journal |pmid=2887122 |year=1987 |last1=Woodman |first1=OL |last2=Vatner |first2=SF |title=Coronary vasoconstriction mediated by alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in conscious dogs |volume=253 |issue=2 Pt 2 |pages=H388–93 |journal=The American Journal of Physiology|doi=10.1152/ajpheart.1987.253.2.H388 }} constricts---
smaller coronary arteriesβ2: dilates{{cite book |last=Rang |first=H. P. |title=Pharmacology |publisher=Churchill Livingstone |location=Edinburgh |year=2003 |page=270 |isbn=978-0-443-07145-4}}---
arteries to visceraα: constricts---
arteries to skinα: constricts---
arteries to brainα1:[http://cim.ucdavis.edu/masters/sessions2002/session4_ica.doc Circulation & Lung Physiology I] M.A.S.T.E.R. Learning Program, UC Davis School of Medicine constricts---
arteries to erectile tissueα1:{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/sj.bjp.0706956 |title=Α1A-Adrenoceptors mediate contractions to phenylephrine in rabbit penile arteries |year=2009 |last1=Morton |first1=J S |last2=Daly |first2=C J |last3=Jackson |first3=V M |last4=McGrath |first4=J C |journal=British Journal of Pharmacology |volume=150 |pages=112–20 |pmid=17115072 |issue=1 |pmc=2013850}} constrictsM3: dilates
arteries to salivary glandsα: constrictsM3: dilates
hepatic arteryα: constricts---
arteries to skeletal muscleβ2: dilates---
Veinsα1 and α2:{{cite journal |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2885.1997.00078.x |title=Alpha-adrenoceptors in equine digital veins: Evidence for the presence of both alpha1 and alpha2-receptors mediating vasoconstriction |year=1997 |last1=Elliott |first1=J. |journal=Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=308–17 |pmid=9280371}} constricts
β2: dilates
---

=Other=

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

plateletsα2: aggregates---
mast cells - histamineβ2: inhibits---

Respiratory system

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

smooth muscles of bronchioles*β2: relaxes (major contribution)
α1: contracts (minor contribution)
M3: contracts

The bronchioles have no sympathetic innervation, but are instead affected by circulating adrenaline

Visual system

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

Pupil dilator muscleα1: Dilates
(causes mydriasis)
Iris sphincter muscle-M3: contracts
(causes miosis)
Ciliary muscleβ2: relaxes
(causes long-range focus)
M3: contracts
(causes short-range focus)

Digestive system

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

salivary glands: secretionsβ: stimulates viscous, amylase secretions
α1: stimulates potassium secretions
M3: stimulates watery secretions
lacrimal glands (tears)β: stimulates protein secretion{{cite journal |pmid=6320658 |year=1984 |last1=Mauduit |first1=P |last2=Herman |first2=G |last3=Rossignol |first3=B |title=Protein secretion induced by isoproterenol or pentoxifylline in lacrimal gland: Ca2+ effects |volume=246 |issue=1 Pt 1 |pages=C37–44 |journal=The American Journal of Physiology|doi=10.1152/ajpcell.1984.246.1.C37 }}secretion of tears by stimulating muscarinic receptors (M3)
juxtaglomerular apparatus of kidneyβ1: renin secretion---
parietal cells---M1: Gastric acid secretion
liverα1, β2: glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis---
adipose cellsβ1, β3: stimulates lipolysis---
GI tract (smooth muscle) motilityα1, α2,{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/gut.28.8.955 |title=Involvement of alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors in the postlaparotomy intestinal motor disturbances in the rat |year=1987 |last1=Sagrada |first1=A |last2=Fargeas |first2=M J |last3=Bueno |first3=L |journal=Gut |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=955–9 |pmid=2889649 |pmc=1433140}} β2: decreasesM3, (M1): increases
sphincters of GI tractα1, α2, β2: contractsM3: relaxes
glands of GI tractno effectM3: secretes

Endocrine system

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

pancreas (islets)α2: decreases insulin secretion from beta cells, increases glucagon secretion from alpha cellsM3:{{cite book | last1 = Poretsky | first1 = Leonid |chapter=Parasympathetic Nerves |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0qojvF1SpUC&pg=PA47 | title = Principles of diabetes mellitu | year = 2010 | publisher = Springer | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-387-09840-1 | page = 47 }}{{cite journal |doi=10.2337/diabetes.53.7.1714 |title=Muscarinic Stimulation of Pancreatic Insulin and Glucagon Release is Abolished in M3 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Deficient Mice |year=2004 |last1=Duttaroy |first1=A. |last2=Zimliki |first2=C. L. |last3=Gautam |first3=D. |last4=Cui |first4=Y. |last5=Mears |first5=D. |last6=Wess |first6=J. |journal=Diabetes |volume=53 |issue=7 |pages=1714–20 |pmid=15220195|doi-access=free }} increases secretion of both insulin and glucagon.
adrenal medullaN (nicotinic ACh receptor): secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine---

Urinary system

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

Detrusor urinae muscle of bladder wallβ2, β3:{{cite journal |doi=10.1124/jpet.109.155010 |title=Effects of 3-Adrenergic Receptor Activation on Rat Urinary Bladder Hyperactivity Induced by Ovariectomy |year=2009 |last1=Kullmann |first1=F. A. |last2=Limberg |first2=B. J. |last3=Artim |first3=D. E. |last4=Shah |first4=M. |last5=Downs |first5=T. R. |last6=Contract |first6=D. |last7=Wos |first7=J. |last8=Rosenbaum |first8=J. S. |last9=De Groat |first9=W. C. |journal=Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics |volume=330 |issue=3 |pages=704–17 |pmid=19515967 |pmc=2729793 }} relaxesM3: contracts
internal urethral sphincterα1: contractsM3: relaxes

Reproductive system

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Target

! Sympathetic (adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic (muscarinic)

uterusα1: contracts (pregnant)
β2: relaxes (non-pregnant)
---
genitaliaα1: contracts (ejaculation)M3: erection

Integumentary system

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Target

! Sympathetic (muscarinic and adrenergic)

! Parasympathetic

sweat gland secretionsα1: stimulates (minor contribution)M: stimulates (major contribution)
arrector piliα1: stimulates---

References