Unit MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS IN NEUROPATHOLOGY
- Course
- Medical, veterinary and forensic biotechnological sciences
- Study-unit Code
- A001765
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- CFU
- 12
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2023
- Offered
- 2023/24
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa integrata
NEUROLOGY
| Code | A001766 |
|---|---|
| CFU | 6 |
| Teacher | Cinzia Costa |
| Teachers |
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| Hours |
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| Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
| Area | Discipline medico-chirurgiche e riproduzione umana |
| Academic discipline | MED/26 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Contents | 1) Neuronal physiopathology 2) Resting potential and action potential 3) Synaptic transmission 4) Epileptogenesis 5) Experimental models of epilepsy 6) Neuroprotective effects of antiepileptic drugs during in vitro ischemia 7) Physiopathology of Stroke 8) Synaptic plasticity 9) Experimental models of cerebral ischemia 10) Neurobiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease 11) Laboratory techniques 12) Electrophysiological techniques (extra-cellular, intra-cellular and patch clamp recordings 13) Physiopathological aspects of multiple sclerosis 14) Phatogenetic bases of immuno-modulatory treatment in multiple sclerosis: interferon, beta copolymer 1 |
| Reference texts | Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Edition (Principles of Neural Science (Kandel) 5th Edition by Eric R. Kandel |
| Educational objectives | The main purpose of this course is to provide the fundamental knowledge on the physiopathological bases of neurological diseases. Moreover, the program will focus on the molecular and synaptic mechanisms underlying some neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and epilepsy. The course provides also a practical approach on the use of electrophysiological techniques (extra-, intra-, and patch-clamp-cellular recordings) in experimental brain slice preparations. |
| Prerequisites | Neuron biology basics. |
| Teaching methods | Frontal lessons and practical exercises. |
| Other information | Frequency not mandatory but strongly recommended. |
| Learning verification modality | Written test and final oral exam. |
| Extended program | 1) Neuronal physiopathology 2) Resting potential and action potential 3) Synaptic transmission 4) Epileptogenesis 5) Experimental models of epilepsy 6) Neuroprotective effects of antiepileptic drugs during in vitro ischemia 7) Physiopathology of Stroke 8) Synaptic plasticity 9) Experimental models of cerebral ischemia 10) Neurobiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease 11) Laboratory techniques 12) Electrophysiological techniques (extra-cellular, intra-cellular and patch clamp recordings 13) Physiopathological aspects of multiple sclerosis 14) Phatogenetic bases of immuno-modulatory treatment in multiple sclerosis: interferon, beta copolymer 1 15) Physiopathological aspects of migraine and experimental models |
PHYSIOLOGY
| Code | A001767 |
|---|---|
| CFU | 6 |
| Teacher | Alessandro Tozzi |
| Teachers |
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| Hours |
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| Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
| Area | Discipline biotecnologiche comuni |
| Academic discipline | BIO/09 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Contents | Concept of internal environment and homeostasis; Homeostatic mechanisms (negative and positive feedback, feed-forward controls); General organization of the nervous system. Cells of the nervous system: elements of cytology and morphology related to specific functions of neurons and glial cells. Cellular communication; Diffusion of molecules across a cell membrane: Fick's law; Osmosis. Mechanisms of cellular transports. Membrane properties of excitable cells. Genesis of membrane potential; equilibrium potentials; Nernst and Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation; the equivalent membrane circuit and Ohm’s law; current-voltage relationship. Ion channels and resting membrane potential. Graded potentials, action potential and their propagation. Synaptic transmission: electrical and chemical synapses. The neuromuscular junction. Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Mechanisms of signal transductions. Postsynaptic potentials. Synaptic integration: spatial and temporal summation of graded potentials. Mechanisms of short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity (LTP, LTD). The somato-sensory system. Sense receptors properties, receptor potential, receptor adaptation, receptive field, lateral inhibition. Nociception, pain modulation and hyperalgesia. Skeletal muscle; Ultrastructure, electro-mechanical coupling; Simple twitch and summation phenomena; the muscular tetanus. The motor units; muscle strength and regulation mechanisms. Motor systems: general organization, reflex, rhythmic and voluntary movements. Examples of spinal reflexes: phasic and tonic myotatic reflex; reverse myotatic reflex; flexor reflex. Principles of electrophysiological techniques for the study of neuronal activity; Patch clamp, extracellular recordings, intracellular recordings. Animal models to measure synaptic transmission and plasticity. Experimental models to measure evoked or spontaneous postsynaptic potentials or currents. Experimental models to measure synaptic facilitation, post-tetanic potentiation, long-term potentiation or long-term depression. Calcium imaging; Measure of fractional calcium current through glutamate and nACh receptors. |
| Reference texts | Neuroscience – Exploring the Brain, Fourth Edition by Mark F. BEAR – Barry W. CONNORS – Michael A. PARADISO Ed. Walters Kluwer Principles of Neural Science, Fifth Edition by Eric R. Kandel (Editor), James H. Schwartz (Editor), Thomas M. Jessell (Editor), Steven A. Siegelbaum (Editor), A. J. Hudspeth (Editor) |
| Educational objectives | Knowledge of the basis of the nervous system and skeletal muscle physiology. Knowledge of the main experimental electrophysiological methods to study neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission and and long-term plasticity in brain slice preparation. |
| Prerequisites | Basis of chemistry, physics and human anatomy. Basis of cellular and molecular biology of the neuron. |
| Teaching methods | Frontal lessons and practice exercises, in presence and online. |
| Other information | Frequency not mandatory but strongly recommended. |
| Learning verification modality | Written test (LibreEOL) and final oral exam. |
| Extended program | Concept of internal environment and homeostasis; Homeostatic mechanisms (negative and positive feedback, feed-forward controls); General organization of the nervous system. Cells of the nervous system: elements of cytology and morphology related to specific functions of neurons and glial cells. Cellular communication; Diffusion of molecules across a cell membrane: Fick's law; Osmosis. Mechanisms of cellular transports. Membrane properties of excitable cells. Genesis of membrane potential; equilibrium potentials; Nernst and Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation; the equivalent membrane circuit and Ohm’s law; current-voltage relationship. Ion channels and resting membrane potential. Graded potentials, action potential and their propagation. Synaptic transmission: electrical and chemical synapses. The neuromuscular junction. Ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Mechanisms of signal transductions. Postsynaptic potentials. Synaptic integration: spatial and temporal summation of graded potentials. Mechanisms of short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity (LTP, LTD). The somato-sensory system. Sense receptors properties, receptor potential, receptor adaptation, receptive field, lateral inhibition. Nociception, pain modulation and hyperalgesia. Skeletal muscle; Ultrastructure, electro-mechanical coupling; Simple twitch and summation phenomena; the muscular tetanus. The motor units; muscle strength and regulation mechanisms. Motor systems: general organization, reflex, rhythmic and voluntary movements. Examples of spinal reflexes: phasic and tonic myotatic reflex; reverse myotatic reflex; flexor reflex. Principles of electrophysiological techniques for the study of neuronal activity; Patch clamp, extracellular recordings, intracellular recordings. Animal models to measure synaptic transmission and plasticity. Experimental models to measure evoked or spontaneous postsynaptic potentials or currents. Experimental models to measure synaptic facilitation, post-tetanic potentiation, long-term potentiation or long-term depression. Calcium imaging; Measure of fractional calcium current through glutamate and nACh receptors. |