The crosstalk between autonomic nervous system and blood vessels

Abstract

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), comprised of two primary branches, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, plays an essential role in the regulation of vascular wall contractility and tension. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves work together to balance the functions of autonomic effector organs. The neurotransmitters released from the varicosities in the ANS can regulate the vascular tone. Norepinephrine (NE), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) function as vasoconstrictors, whereas acetylcholine (Ach) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) can mediate vasodilation. On the other hand, vascular factors, such as endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide (NO), and constriction factor endothelin, play an important role in the autonomic nervous system in physiologic conditions. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are associated with the sympathetic nerve activity in the pathological conditions, such as hypertension, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus. The dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system could be a risk factor for vascular diseases and the overactive sympathetic nerve is detrimental to the blood vessel. In this review, we summarize findings concerning the crosstalk between ANS and blood vessels in both physiological and pathological conditions and hope to provide insight into the development of therapeutic interventions of vascular diseases.

Keywords: The autonomic nervous system; blood vessels; endothelial dysfunction; neurotransmitters; vascular diseases.

Figure 1

Schematic illustration of the innervation of blood vessels by the neurotransmitters from the autonomic nerve. The autonomic nerve terminal varicosities contain various neurotransmitters that are released and diffused to the effector cells (endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells). The effector cells express a variety of receptors that specifically interact with vasoactive factors from the nerve terminal. The endothelial cells also produce vasoactive factors NO and endothelin to influence the extent to which the ANS affects vascular tone. NE: norepinephrine; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; Ach: acetylcholine; CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide; NPY: neuropeptide Y; NO: nitric oxide.