Autonomic Effects on Respiration

Outline by Claude.ai

Chapter: Autonomic Control of Respiration

I. Introduction

• Overview of dual autonomic innervation of the airways
• Clinical relevance (asthma, COPD, pharmacological interventions)
• Brief mention of the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic tone

II. Sympathetic Control: Adrenergic Receptors and Bronchodilation

• Innervation pattern (sympathetic innervation is sparse; circulating catecholamines are more important)
• Beta-2 adrenergic receptors as the primary mediators of bronchial smooth muscle relaxation
  • Distribution on bronchial smooth muscle
  • Signaling cascade: Gs protein → adenylyl cyclase → cAMP → PKA → smooth muscle relaxation
  • Mechanisms of relaxation (decreased intracellular calcium, MLCK inhibition)
• Clinical applications: beta-2 agonists (albuterol, salmeterol) in asthma/COPD treatment
• Brief mention of alpha-adrenergic receptors in pulmonary vasculature