Cholinergic and Adrenergic

Neurons
 Cholinergic Neurons
• Excitotory (N& M1) & Inhibitory M2
• Motor neurons
• All autonomic preganglionic neurons
• Postganglionic parasympathetic
 Cholinergic II
• Basal forebrain complex: ventral to basal ganglia.
Includes medial septal nuclei & bed nucleus of the
stria terminalis which provide the cholinergic
innervation of the hippocampus, and basal nucleus
of myenrt, which provides most of the cholinergic
innervation of the neocortex. Collectively, first to die
in Alzehmeir’s diseas. They play a role In regulating
general brain excitability during arousal and sleep-
wake cycles. Play a role in learning and memory
formation. Difffuse modulatory system.
Basal forebrain complex
 Cholinergic III
• Pontomescensphalotegmental complex: pons
& midbrain tegmentum. Act mainly on dorsla
thalamus, where together with noreadrengic
and sertonergic systems, regulate the
excitability of sensory relay nuclei. Also project
to telencephalon providing cholinergic link
between brainstem & basal forebrain
complexes. A diffuse modulatory system.
 Diffuse Modulatory System
• Axonal system with highly divergent
projections to multiple areas of the CNS
providing extensive spatial control. Each
system prolongs its actions by using G-proteins
coupling receptors. Further coverage by the
release of neurotransmitter molecules into the
extracellular fluid so that they can diffuse to
many neurons rather than being restricted to
the immediate vicinity of synaptic cleft.
 Its parts:
• Cholinergic pontomesencephalo-tegmental
system
• Noradrengic system (LC)
• Serotonergic (Raphe Nuclei)
 Noradrenergic – Locus Coeruleus
• The locus Coeruleus means blue spot because of the
colour of its pigmentation. There are two of them, one
on each side in the pons just lateral to the fourth
ventricle. It is a member of diffuse modulatory system.
Surprisingly, it is very small with about 12, 000 neurons
in each nucleus. Axons leave the nucleus, fan out, and
branch to mytliple times to supply most regions of the
central nervous system, including all of the cerebral
cortex, the amygdala, the hippocampus, basal ganglia,
thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, midbrain,
cerebellum and spinal cord.
 Locus Coeruleus II
• It is involved in the regulation of attention,
arousal, sleep-wake cycles, learning &
memory, anxiety, pain, mood, and brain
metabolism. It is a vital link to chronic stress as
it sends sensory input to the amygdala &
hippocampus. Along with the serotonergic
raphe nuclei, it is part of the reticular
activating system.
Locus Coeruleus III