Table of neurotransmitter actions in the ANS explained

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

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
	β1, (β2): increases	M2 decreases
SA node heart rate (chronotropic)	β1, (β2):[1] increases	M2: decreases
Atrial cardiac muscle: contractility (inotropic)	β1, (β2): increases	M2: decreases
		M2: decreases conduction Atrioventricular block
		---

Blood vessels

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
vascular smooth muscle in general	α1:[2] contracts; β2: relaxes	M3 relaxes
	α1:[3] constricts	---
	α1 and α2:[4] constricts	---
	β2: dilates[5]	---
	α: constricts	---
	α: constricts	---
	α1:[6] constricts	---
	α1:[7] constricts	M3: dilates
arteries to salivary glands	α: constricts	M3: dilates
	α: constricts	---
	β2: dilates	---
Veins	α1 and α2:[8] constricts β2: dilates	---

Other

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
	α2 aggregates	---
	β2: inhibits	---

Respiratory system

^✱ The bronchioles have no sympathetic innervation, but are instead affected by circulating adrenaline^[1]

Visual system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
	α1 Dilates (causes mydriasis)
	-	M3: contracts (causes miosis)
	β2: relaxes (causes long-range focus)	M3: contracts (causes short-range focus)

Digestive system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
salivary glands secretions	β: stimulates viscous, amylase secretions α1: stimulates potassium secretions	M3: stimulates watery secretions
lacrimal glands (tears)	β: stimulates protein secretion[9]	secretion of tears by stimulating muscarinic receptors (M3)
	β1: renin secretion	---
	---	M1: Gastric acid secretion
		---
adipose cells		---
GI tract (smooth muscle) motility	α1, α2,[10] β2: decreases	M3, (M1): increases
	α1, α2, β2: contracts	M3: relaxes
	no effect	M3: secretes

Endocrine system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
pancreas (islets)	α2: decreases insulin secretion from beta cells, increases glucagon secretion from alpha cells	M3:[11] [12] increases secretion of both insulin and glucagon.
		---

Urinary system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
Detrusor urinae muscle of bladder wall	β2, β3:[13] relaxes	M3: contracts
	α1: contracts	M3: relaxes

Reproductive system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
	α1: contracts (pregnant) β2: relaxes (non-pregnant)	---
	α1: contracts (ejaculation)	M3: erection

Integumentary system

Target	Sympathetic (muscarinic and adrenergic)	Parasympathetic
sweat gland secretions	α1: stimulates (minor contribution)	M: stimulates (major contribution)
	α1: stimulates	---

Notes and References

1. Book: H. P. Rang. Pharmacology 5th ed.. M. Maureen Dale. Churchill Livingstone. 2003. 978-0-443-07145-4. H. P. Rang. 127.
2. Book: Costanzo, Linda S. . Physiology . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins . Hagerstwon, MD . 2007 . 37 . 978-0-7817-7311-9 . registration .
3. 6270306 . 1981 . Schmitz . JM . Graham . RM . Sagalowsky . A . Pettinger . WA . Renal alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors: Biochemical and pharmacological correlations . 219 . 2 . 400–6 . The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
4. 2887122 . 1987 . Woodman . OL . Vatner . SF . Coronary vasoconstriction mediated by alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in conscious dogs . 253 . 2 Pt 2 . H388–93 . The American Journal of Physiology. 10.1152/ajpheart.1987.253.2.H388 .
5. Book: Rang, H. P. . Pharmacology . Churchill Livingstone . Edinburgh . 2003 . 270 . 978-0-443-07145-4.
6. http://cim.ucdavis.edu/masters/sessions2002/session4_ica.doc Circulation & Lung Physiology I
7. 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706956 . Α1A-Adrenoceptors mediate contractions to phenylephrine in rabbit penile arteries . 2009 . Morton . J S . Daly . C J . Jackson . V M . McGrath . J C . British Journal of Pharmacology . 150 . 112–20 . 17115072 . 1 . 2013850.
8. 10.1046/j.1365-2885.1997.00078.x . Alpha-adrenoceptors in equine digital veins: Evidence for the presence of both alpha1 and alpha2-receptors mediating vasoconstriction . 1997 . Elliott . J. . Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics . 20 . 4 . 308–17 . 9280371.
9. 6320658 . 1984 . Mauduit . P . Herman . G . Rossignol . B . Protein secretion induced by isoproterenol or pentoxifylline in lacrimal gland: Ca2+ effects . 246 . 1 Pt 1 . C37–44 . The American Journal of Physiology. 10.1152/ajpcell.1984.246.1.C37 .
10. 10.1136/gut.28.8.955 . Involvement of alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptors in the postlaparotomy intestinal motor disturbances in the rat . 1987 . Sagrada . A . Fargeas . M J . Bueno . L . Gut . 28 . 8 . 955–9 . 2889649 . 1433140.
11. Book: Poretsky . Leonid . Parasympathetic Nerves . https://books.google.com/books?id=i0qojvF1SpUC&pg=PA47 . Principles of diabetes mellitu . 2010 . Springer . New York . 978-0-387-09840-1 . 47 .
12. 10.2337/diabetes.53.7.1714 . Muscarinic Stimulation of Pancreatic Insulin and Glucagon Release is Abolished in M3 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor-Deficient Mice . 2004 . Duttaroy . A. . Zimliki . C. L. . Gautam . D. . Cui . Y. . Mears . D. . Wess . J. . Diabetes . 53 . 7 . 1714–20 . 15220195. free .
13. 10.1124/jpet.109.155010 . Effects of 3-Adrenergic Receptor Activation on Rat Urinary Bladder Hyperactivity Induced by Ovariectomy . 2009 . Kullmann . F. A. . Limberg . B. J. . Artim . D. E. . Shah . M. . Downs . T. R. . Contract . D. . Wos . J. . Rosenbaum . J. S. . De Groat . W. C. . Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics . 330 . 3 . 704–17 . 19515967 . 2729793 .