Table of neurotransmitter actions in the ANS

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)
cardiac output	β1, (β2): increases	M2: decreases
SA node: heart rate (chronotropic)	β1, (β2):[1] increases	M2: decreases
Atrial cardiac muscle: contractility (inotropic)	β1, (β2):[1] increases	M2: decreases
at AV node	β1: increases conduction increases cardiac muscle automaticity[1]	M2: decreases conduction Atrioventricular block[1]
Ventricular cardiac muscle	β1, (β2): increases contractility (inotropic) increases cardiac muscle automaticity[1]	---

Blood vessels

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
vascular smooth muscle in general	α1:[2] contracts; β2:[2] relaxes	M3: relaxes[1]
renal artery	α1:[3] constricts	---
larger coronary arteries	α1 and α2:[4] constricts[1]	---
smaller coronary arteries	β2: dilates[5]	---
arteries to viscera	α: constricts	---
arteries to skin	α: constricts	---
arteries to brain	α1:[6] constricts[1]	---
arteries to erectile tissue	α1:[7] constricts	M3: dilates
arteries to salivary glands	α: constricts	M3: dilates
hepatic artery	α: constricts	---
arteries to skeletal muscle	β2: dilates	---
Veins	α1 and α2:[8] constricts β2: dilates	---

Other

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
platelets	α2: aggregates	---
mast cells - histamine	β2: inhibits	---

Respiratory system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
smooth muscles of bronchioles*	β2:[2] relaxes (major contribution) α1: contracts (minor contribution)	M3:[2] contracts

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

Visual system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
Pupil dilator muscle	α1: Dilates (causes mydriasis)
Iris sphincter muscle	-	M3: contracts (causes miosis)
Ciliary muscle	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)
juxtaglomerular apparatus of kidney	β1:[2] renin secretion	---
parietal cells	---	M1: Gastric acid secretion
liver	α1, β2: glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis	---
adipose cells	β1,[2] β3: stimulates lipolysis	---
GI tract (smooth muscle) motility	α1, α2,[10] β2: decreases	M3, (M1):[1] increases
sphincters of GI tract	α1,[2] α2,[1] β2: contracts	M3:[2] relaxes
glands of GI tract	no effect[1]	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.[11][12]
adrenal medulla	N (nicotinic ACh receptor): secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine	---

Urinary system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
Detrusor urinae muscle of bladder wall	β2,[2] β3:[13] relaxes	M3:[2] contracts
internal urethral sphincter	α1:[2] contracts	M3:[2] relaxes

Reproductive system

Target	Sympathetic (adrenergic)	Parasympathetic (muscarinic)
uterus	α1: contracts (pregnant[1]) β2: relaxes (non-pregnant[1])	---
genitalia	α1: contracts (ejaculation)	M3: erection

Integumentary system

Target	Sympathetic (muscarinic and adrenergic)	Parasympathetic
sweat gland secretions	α1: stimulates (minor contribution)	M:[2] stimulates (major contribution)
arrector pili	α1: stimulates	---

References

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