title: Controlling influences of the autonomic nervous system.
abstract: Recent information about the localization of sympathetic nerves and catecholamine-containing cells suggests sites of action not usually described in the neuroscience textbooks. In this study, we focused on the autonomic controls that affect ganglia, heart, gut, and chemoreceptors. As a result of some speculation derived mainly from histochemical observations and partially from physiologic data, we concluded that at the organ level the interplay between a nerve terminal-receptor serves as a local control. Additional controls may function at the ganglion level where catecholamine-containing chromaffin cells may serve as interneurons. We suggest that all peripheral catecholamine-containing elements which function in a modulatory role are not vital to the survival of the individual but rather serve as "fine tune" adjustment that do not involve the central nervous system.
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000294:innervation; D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001016:Aortic Bodies / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000502:physiology; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000166:cytology; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000502:physiology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission