Enrollment year
2018/2019
Academic discipline
BIO/06 (COMPARATIVE ANATOMY AND CYTOLOGY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY "LAZZARO SPALLANZANI"
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Period
1st semester (01/10/2018 - 14/01/2019)
Lesson hours
80 lesson hours
Prerequisites
An adequate knowledge of Cell Biology and Comparative Anatomy is required.
Learning outcomes
The course is intended to provide basic knowledge for researches on the development and morphology of central nervous system. Particular attention is focused on the adult neurogenesis and presence of stem cells, also in relation to the architecture of brain areas in mammals.
Course contents
Part 1. Topics covered include: 1) CNS ontogenesis in vertebrates: morphology and molecular aspects. Induction and formation of the neural tube; brain vesicles; neuromeres. Neurogenesis in the brain ventricle wall: proliferation, migration and differentiation. Development of brain cortical areas. Genesis of synaptic contacts, cell death and synapse elimination; neural circuits. 2) Adult neurogenesis and stem cells: neurogenic areas and molecular markers.
Part 2. The course describes CNS evolution in the vertebrates: anatomy, cytoarchitecture and functional aspects, with particular attention to the evolutionary changes of cerebral and cerebellar archi-, paleo- and neo-cortices, in correlation with the evolution of the encephalon macro and microcircuits. Anatomical organization of the invertebrate brains is also explained: structure and cytoarchitecture of the brain in molluscs, annelida and artropods.
Contemporaneously, the main cellular, morphological and morphofunctional techniques applicable in neurobiology are illustrated, mainly through laboratory demonstrations. In particular, the following methods are discussed: 1) cellular techniques of neurobiologic interest; 2) advanced microscopic techniques; 3) biomolecular immunocytochemistry on nervous cells and tissue.
Teaching methods
Frontal Lectures and lab practice exercises
Reccomended or required readings
Bibliographic material provided by lecturers.
Recommended textbook: "Lo sviluppo del Sistema Nervoso" Sanes D.H. et al., Zanichelli Ed.
Assessment methods
Oral Examination
Further information
Oral Examination
Sustainable development goals - Agenda 2030
Università di Pavia - Offerta formativa