Cellular and Molecular Biology

CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY

CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Class schedule
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

This teaching is in-line with the learning goals of the Neurobiology track of the Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology.  The main objective is to provide students with an advanced knowledge of cell and molecular biology of neurons, glia and other neural cell types and to make students able to apply this knowledge to specific aspects of brain function

Results of learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

• familiarize with the concept of the relationship between the structure of the different subcellular structures of neurons and glial cells and their physiological roles with emphasys on the molecular mechanisms
• describe and understand the origin and function of cell type multiplicity in the nervous system, with special emphasys on cortical interneuron subtypes

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

• The students will familiarize with techniques and research strategies employed in cellular neurobiology, including cell culture techniques for specific neural cell types
• They will improve their comprehension of scientific articles and develop their skills in choosing, reporting and discussing data from the neurobiology scientific literature

Program

• Ependymal, choroidal and endothelial cells: BBB, B-CSF-B, the problem of delivery of exogenous molecules to the brain
• The neuron: origin and function of neuronal multiplicity - subcellular organization of the neuron
• Glial cells: -new and classical roles - Astrocytes: morphological & functional features, reactive gliosis, gliotransmission - Microglia: physiological and pathological roles.
• Cellular communication in the nervous system: the neuron as a secretory cell - functional organization of the pre- and postsynaptic terminals - neurotransmitters and neuromodulators - structure and function of the main neurotransmitter receptors - dynamic regulation of gabaergic and glutamatergic synapses - the endocannabinoid system - non-synaptic communication
• EXPERT SECTION (delivered by a visiting professor) The Zebrafish model in Neurobiology - Anatomical organization and molecular mechanisms of the circadian clock system in vertebrates - Neuroendocrine regulation of food consumption and associated pathological aspects from fish to mammals

Course delivery

• Teaching includes 40 hours of lectures and seminars, interactive group work, discussion times and short movies
• The EXPERT SECTION includes lessons and seminars delivered by a visiting professor on specific topics

Learning assessment methods

• Article Search/Article Analysis activity (obligatory): Each student is required to search for two research articles on PubMed or Google Scholar related to the Topics presented by the Visiting Professor (molecular clock, regulation of food consumption, zebrafish model) and the first two Topics presented by Prof. Bovolin (ependymal cells/blood-brain barrier, glial cells). For each selected article, students must complete a short report following a guided track prepared by the teachers.
• Short article presentation (optional): groups of 2 students will deliver a ppt presentation before the end of the course. The presentation should be based on one of the articles previously selected through the Article Search activity, or alternatively, an article provided by the teachers. This presentation will contribute additional points to the final grade of the Cellular Neurobiology exam, provided it is passed within the first two exam sessions (January-February and June-July 2025).
• Final exam: This exam will be an oral colloquium consisting of a discussion on the topics covered in lectures, ppt presentation, assigned readings and movies.
• Scores: 25% of the final grade will be based on the Article Search/Article Analysis activity. The remaining 75% will be covered by the final exam. The maximum grade will be 32/30. "30 cum laude" will be assigned to grades 31 and 32. All additional points obtained with the PPT presentation will be added to the final exam of the first two exam session (January-February and June-July 2025).

• Final exams will take place in presence

• Academic conduct: The penalty for course-related dishonesty (ei. cheating on exams, plagiarism, etc) will be a failure for the entire course.

• Neurobiology: a functional approach - Striedter (2016)
• Neuroscience - Purves et al. (2018 sixth edition)
• Principles of Neural Sciences - Kandel et al.  (2013 fifth edition)
• Scientific articles indicated in the teaching material

Courses that borrow this teaching

• CELLULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (SVB0055)
  Cellular and Molecular Biology

Class schedule

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
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