This is the Home Page
(Jan.06-April 11, 2003)Introductory
Neurobiology - ZOO332H1S
Dr. Andrew J. Elia
Dept. of Zoology,
University of Toronto
This is the Home Page
(Jan.06-April 11, 2003)
ZOO332H1S
– L5101
Jan. 06 –
INTRODUCTORY
NEUROBIOLOGY
Professor: Andrew J. Elia (Team Leader), Ramsay Wright Zoological Laboratories and Advanced Medical Discovery Institute (AMDI)/Ontario Cancer Institute, email : aelia@uhnres.utoronto.ca (416) 946 4501 Ext: 5488#
TA:
Sharon Hill, Dept. of Zoology (Erindale Campus), email:
shill@utm.utoronto.ca (905) 569 4752
Office Hours: AJE - at lecture or by appointment; SH - Fridays 10am
- 11am, RWZL 303
Guest Lecturers: in the past one or two guest lecturers presented
topics relating to their research interests.
These lectures provide a chance for students to see first hand of how
some of the principles and techniques discussed in class are applied to current
research questions in Neurobiology. Material they present may be examined in
term tests and/or the final exam.
Lectures: MWF 11am-12noon
Tutorials: Fridays 11am. TA office hours: Fridays 10am-11am, RWZL
303. Tutorial time will be
mainly used for special topics (readings), “help sessions” on lecture
material or assignments (details will be announced in class), etc. Students participate by asking questions, contributing to
discussion, and in writing quizzes on selected readings. You
should use email to ask questions of SH about the tutorial. If a problem can't
be resolved then see me (AJE).
Marking
scheme (NOTE CHANGE FROM ORIGINAL (JAN. 13, 2003)
)
Assignment/Seminar*: 25%
- an assignment (10%), quizzes, and participation (15%)
Term Tests (two): 15% (
Final Exam: 40% (TBA)
Penalty for lateness: 5% per day
General
Term
test results will be posted outside RW 019, from which returned papers may be
collected. The first term test will be primarily a multiple-choice format, and
may include some short answers. The 2nd term test will include a
mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and experiment/diagram interpretation
(and be more similar to the format of the final exam).
NOTE: There will be NO make-up
tests in this course.
Weight from a missed test will be transferred to the final exam weight.
For example, if you miss term test 1, the final exam will be worth 55% of
your final grade. If you miss both term tests your final exam weighting becomes
75% of your final grade. (Not a very pleasant scenario.) If you fail to hand in
the assignment and fail to do the quizzes you will receive 0/25 (weighting is NOT
transferred).
The
final exam will cover the entire course
and may also include more extensive questions, essay style (with diagrams where
appropriate), although the style changes from year to year.
Required
Text:
From Neuron to Brain, (Nicholls,
Martin, Wallace & Fuchs, 4th edition, 2001, Sinauer, ISBN 0-87893-439-1).
This is a well-written, detailed text that favours experimental principles and
reminds us of who was responsible for them. A limited number of an alternative
primary textbook, which was published recently, is available: NeuroScience, 2nd edition, edited by Purves et
al. (Sinauer, 2001, ISBN 0-87893-742-0).
Other
Texts:
Essentials of Neural Science and Behaviour
edited by Kandel, Schwartz and Jessell (Appleton and Lange, 1995, ISBN
0-8385-2245-9), although page references will be for the NMWF text. The
Neuron, by Levitan and Kaczmarek (1991 -
DO NOT
EXPECT ALL FIGURES AND MATERIAL TO BE DERIVED FROM THE REQUIRED TEXT. Some
figures will appear in lectures and slides from other sources (texts and journal
articles). They will be referenced where possible.
Also
note that each lecture listed on the web pages is actually two lectures in one
(so there are 12 lectures listed instead of 24). Revised lectures (note date on
cover page) will appear on the web site as the course progresses, usually at
least one week in advance. Please
report any bugs you experience in the web pages to me (AJE).
ZOO
332H1S – L5101
Jan. 06 –
Emphasis will favour
physiological principles of neurobiology (but not to the exclusion of physical
or chemical principles where necessary). Be
prepared to work beyond assigned readings if you have no physiology background.
The course will begin with a review of
some fundamental principles of neurobiology, neuronal structure and function,
and the techniques used to explore the nervous system. Experimental models will
favour invertebrates. Lectures will include (but are not limited to) such topics
as: chemical and electrical gradients across cell membranes, electrical nature
of neurons, the Nernst and Goldman equations, nerve impulses and their
conduction along the axon (the action potential), Hodgkin and Huxley dogma, the
"truth" about "all-or-none", factors which influence
propagation of an action potential, ion channels and receptors, synaptic
transmission, the use of toxins, structure and function of insect nervous
system, invertebrate neurophysiology, and plasticity in the nervous system (invertebrate).
An introduction to second messengers, physiological properties of
synapses, an introduction to their integrative role in neural networks and the
control of whole animal functions, and development of the nervous system will
also be discussed. Selected examples of molecular/genetic models of diseases of
the nervous system of vertebrates will be presented as time permits.
Preliminary
Lecture Outline and Text References:
NOTE:
The sequence of material presented in lectures may not exactly follow that
outlined below. Also, be sure to
check for handouts (updates) given at lectures. Some additions/changes to
material listed may occur.
Week 1-3 :
Overview
of neurons and the nervous system; ion channels, structure and signalling. Chapters 1 to 3, 7.
Ch.1 is a briefly outlines just about everything to come. Later chapters (and
lectures) will expand on many of these topics.
We then jump to Ch.7 for an intro to electrical (cable) properties of
neurons. Ch. 2 jumps immediately into the molecules, structures, and chemical
(ionic) gradients that allow the nervous system to send information in terms of
electrical impulses. You’re also introduced to electrical recording from
neurons. Ch.3 introduces cloning and
characterizing ion channels and receptors. It is these ion channels and
receptors that are responsible for signalling in the nervous system.
Week 4-6/7:
Na-K Pump (ATPase) (more on other ion pumps later);
Ionic basis of resting and action potentials.
Structure and function of insect nervous
system (no chapter reference). Chapters 4 to 7, 9.
Chapter 4 deals with ion pumps that maintain ionic gradients across membranes.
For now focus on the section dealing with the Na-K pump, we will return to this
chapter later in the term. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 deal with the intimate details
of the electrical nature of neurons (and the nervous system). This is classical
neurobiology you should already be familiar with, although not in the detail
that we will cover. There are also some new, interesting twists that add to this
classic neurobiology (for example TTX-resistant Na+ channels and how
an isolated member of a species of snake takes advantage of this characteristic
(evolution at work?)). We will also look at the insect nervous system – basic
structure and circuitry. Some specific circuitry that processes sensory input
from the external environment, to modulation of central synapses, to behaviour
will be introduced (this model system will be built upon as the term
progresses).
Week 8-9:
Intercellular communication –Electrical and
chemical synaptic transmission. Directly- and indirectly-gated synapses and
neuronal integration. Chapters 9 & 10. Chapter 9 deals with basic synaptic mechanisms
(electrical and chemical) and how information is integrated. Much of this is
considered “classical”. More recently the importance of 2nd
messengers in synaptic physiology has become apparent (
Week 9-10:
Neurotransmitters
and their release. Chapters 11 & 12. The other half of the information processing
story lies in how neurotransmitters are released. Ch. 11 blends the old with the
new showing how some of the “classic” dogma has been supported, and
extended, by modern techniques. Ch. 12 introduces the data supporting plasticity
of synaptic transmission – efficacy of transmission at a synapse is not fixed!
Some of this will be put into a behavioural context including the sea slug (Aplysia) and, of
course, we will look at integration and modulation of sensory information by the
CNS of the cockroach using the wind evoked escape response as a model system
(not in the textbook).
Week 10/11:
Cellular
and Molecular Biochemistry of Synaptic Transmission & Neurotransmitters.
Week 11-13:
The last two/three weeks of lectures will be selected topics. Some of
these may be worked into lectures during earlier parts of the term. More
information will be provided as the term progresses. Examples of topics in the
past: Cellular mechanisms of motor control; Development of the nervous system;
Classical experiments/ recordings from the retina and visual cortex; Myotonias
(ion channels - handout), myasthenia gravis, MS (myelin and immune related
diseases of the nervous system, role of integrins in MS); Neuroglia cells.