Autonomic neuroimmunology
The pioneering studies of Gaskell (1886), Bayliss and Starling (1899), and Langley and Anderson
(see Langley, 1921) formed the basis of the earlier and, to a large extent, current concepts of the
structure and function of the autonomic nervous system; the major division of the autonomic
nervous system into sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric subdivisions still holds. The
pharmacology of autonomic neuroeffector transmission was dominated by the brilliant studies of
Elliott (1905), Loewi (1921), von Euler and Gaddum (1931), and Dale (1935), and for over 50
years the idea of antagonistic parasympathetic cholinergic and sympathetic adrenergic control of most
organs in visceral and cardiovascular systems formed the working basis of all studies. However,
major advances have been made since the early 1960s that make it necessary to revise our thinking
about the mechanisms of autonomic transmission, and that have significant implications for our
understanding of diseases involving the autonomic nervous system and their treatment.
(see Langley, 1921) formed the basis of the earlier and, to a large extent, current concepts of the
structure and function of the autonomic nervous system; the major division of the autonomic
nervous system into sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric subdivisions still holds. The
pharmacology of autonomic neuroeffector transmission was dominated by the brilliant studies of
Elliott (1905), Loewi (1921), von Euler and Gaddum (1931), and Dale (1935), and for over 50
years the idea of antagonistic parasympathetic cholinergic and sympathetic adrenergic control of most
organs in visceral and cardiovascular systems formed the working basis of all studies. However,
major advances have been made since the early 1960s that make it necessary to revise our thinking
about the mechanisms of autonomic transmission, and that have significant implications for our
understanding of diseases involving the autonomic nervous system and their treatment.
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