ABSTRACT
Within the last 30 years, new discoveries have changed our understanding of the organization of the autonomic nervous system. The structure of the autonomic neuroeffector junction and the multiplicity of neurochemicals that take part in the process of autonomic neuroeffector transmission are described, as well as cotransmission, neuromodulation, receptor expression, and trophic factors. Taking into consideration the distribution and colocalization of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in autonomic nerves, it is clear that the terms adrenergic, cholinergic, purinergic, nitrergic, and peptidergic nerves should no longer be used, although reference to adrenergic, cholinergic, purinergic, nitrergic, or peptidergic neurotransmission is appropriate when describing a particular component of neural signaling.
