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Title: Nicotine stimulates cholinergic receptors of the autonomic nervous system. Based Post by: ppk on Jul 28, 2011 Nicotine stimulates cholinergic receptors of the autonomic nervous system. Based on this information, how would cigarette smoking affect the cardiovascular system?
Title: Re: Nicotine stimulates cholinergic receptors of the autonomic nervous system. Based Post by: star on Jul 29, 2011 Since cholinergic receptors are found in all of the ganglia of the autonomic nervous system, you would expect nicotine to stimulate both sympathetic and parasympathetic responses in the cardiovascular target tissues. In response to increased sympathetic stimulation the heart would beat faster and more forcefully. At the same time, however, increased parasympathetic stimulation would decrease the blood flow to the heart muscle. The increased heart rate and force of contraction would contribute to increased blood pressure as would vasoconstriction of peripheral blood vessels as a result of sympathetic stimulation.
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