Courses Offered

• Undergraduate-level courses
• Cross-listed courses

For Graduate Students:

PHYI 702 - Experimental Physiology of Human Health & Disease (3.0)
Students will learn the principles of cell, organ and systems physiology and pathophysiology required to identify important areas of current biomedical research. A system approach will be taken (neuro, cardiovascular, etc.) but with a strong emphasis on model systems, and use of disease examples (channelopathies, schizophrenia, hypertension, diabetes, etc) and current research opportunities. Lectures are complemented by demonstrations of methods in physiologic research which highlight current research in the department including, for example, optical imaging of morpholino-induced vascular malformation in zebrafish, patch clamping and in vivo quantification of blood flow in mouse models. Fall. Anderson, staff.

PHYI 703 - Electrical Signaling in Biology (2.0)
A ~14 session module that explains the fundamentals of membrane potentials, the action potential, synaptic potentials, and the structure and function of ion channel proteins in a manner suitable for the student who wants a solid understanding but does not plan to specialize in neurobiology, or who wants good preparation for NBIO 722C. Format is lecture, discussion, interactive simulations, and paper discussion. Fall. Sealock.

PHYI 705 - Communicating Scientific Results (1.0)
This course is required for students in the Physiology Program in years 2 and 3. For first-year BBSP students, it will not replace the first-year focus group obligation. The goals of this class are:

• To develop in each student the ability to speak and write effectively about science—with ease, clarity and even pleasure!
• To develop the skill of illustrating talks effectively
• To eliminate the defensiveness provoked in students by being critiqued, edited, and rehearsed and to build self-confidence in speaking and teaching

• To demystify various professional duties and give students practice in how they are executed

These goals are accomplished through multiple mechanisms: student presentations of PowerPoint and chalk talks, formal rehearsal with class buddies and formal presentations to the faculty, videotaping of the presentations and one-on-one review of the video with Dr. Stuart, critiques by Dr. Stuart and other students of presentations and writing assignments, critiquing of departmental seminars, training in audience engagement from a person experienced in theater. Each week a different faculty member from the C&M Physiology Department or the Neurobiology Curriculum visits the class to bring a fresh perspective.  A lunch with these “visiting” faculty ends the semester. Fall. Stuart.

PHYI 706 - Communicating Scientific Results (1.0)
See PHYI 705 above. Spring. Stuart.

PHYI 712A - Organ System Physiology in Health and Disease: Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Physiology (2.0) previously listed as PHYI 892-003
This section will use a combination of overview lectures, textbook or syllabus reading assignments and current research papers for class discussion and emphasize the clinical application of the basic science presented. Endocrine (5 sessions): This segment will examine a) the hypothalamic pituitary relationship (especially thyroid and prolactin control); b) negative and positive feedback of steroids emphasizing current research on kisspeptins; c) sexual development and differentiation, featuring current research on "female is not the default sex"; and d) insulin secretion and mode of action, the role of hypothalamic pyruvate / lactate in glucose production by the liver and clinical relevance of these findings in the potential therapy in Type II diabetes mellitus
Gastrointestinal (10 sessions): The gastrointestinal tract interfaces with the endocrine system and metabolic organs to regulate nutrient utilization and storage. The gastrointestinal epithelium is one of the most rapidly and constantly renewing organ systems. Constant epithelial renewal is essential for normal digestion and absorption of nutrients, and maintains the epithelial barrier against microorganisms and toxins. Gastrointestinal diseases that impair epithelial renewal or integrity are responsible for millions of deaths each year. Increasing evidence indicates that endogenous intestinal microorganisms (microbiota) are critical to normal intestinal function. This course segment will take a disease-oriented format focused on intestinal growth colon cancer and obesity to illustrate the elegance and clinical importance of this organ system. Material covered will include: a) an overview of the structure, function of the gastrointestinal tract and mechanisms of epithelial renewal in health and disease; b) an overview and original new research on intestinal stem cells and their role in healing, tissue regeneration or aberrant growth during disease states such as radiation or chemotherapy induced injury, and cancer; c) an overview of the normal intestinal microbial community (microbiota) and its roles in intestinal epithelial renewal, inflammation, and nutrient metabolism; and d) original research on how the intestinal microbiota regulates intestinal physiology and disease and provide potential new therapeutic strategies for bowel disease and obesity. Lund, Rawls, Anderson, Falvo.

PHYI 712B - Organ System Physiology in Health and Disease: Cardiovascular and Renal Physiology (2.0) previously listed as PHYI 891A
A ~18 session course on the basic physiology of the kidney and cardiovascular systems, their interactions, and their regulation. Aspects of normal physiology are extensively highlighted by discussion of human diseases. Sealock, Edwards.

PHYI 712C - Organ System Physiology in Health and Disease: Respiration (1.0) previously listed as PHYI 892-004
A 10-12 session course that begins with the basic physiology of respiration and gas transport, then applies that understanding to in-depth discussions of common, devastating respiratory diseases. Format is lecture plus journal club. Randell, Sealock.

PHYI 751/752 - Seminar in Physiology (1.0)
Prerequisite, permission of the director of graduate studies. Weekly seminars emphasize current literature. Faber and staff.

PHYI 775 - Stem Cell and Maturational Lineage Biology (4.0)
General lectures, analyses and discussions of primary literature on stem cell and lineage biology, and research seminars by leaders in the fields of stem cell and maturational lineage biology.  Themes to be presented include basic cell and molecular biological characterization of stem cells, regulation of self-replication versus lineage restriction and differentiation of cells, model systems used in studies of stem cells, and the relevance of it all to tissue formation, regeneration, disease states involving lineage-dependent pathogenic infections or mutation(s), and strategies for clinical therapies in regenerative medicine. In addition, there will be lectures on clinical and commercial programs involving stem cells. Fall. Reid, staff.

PHYI 824 - Pain and Somatic Sensation (2.0)
Prerequisites, PHYI 200 or equivalent and permission of the instructor. Consideration of peripheral and central neural mechanisms for somatic sensation with particular emphasis on pain. Spring. Perl.

PHYI 839 - Endothelial Cells in Health and Disease (2.0)
15 sessions. This course explores the important roles that endothelial cells play in normal physiology and disease states. Endothelial cells form the border between the blood and the rest of the body. In some organs and tissues (like the liver) the endothelium must be permeable, whereas in other organs (like the blood-brain barrier) it must remain relatively impermeable. As a result, endothelial cells are amazingly heterogeneous and highly responsive to environmental and mechanical factors. Many common and severe disease conditions are due to aberrant endothelial cell function. The course will include: an evolutionary perspective of how mammalian endothelial cells came to adopt their unique functions; important cell signaling pathways of endothelial cells and how those signaling pathways can be altered by environmental/mechanical factors such as hypoxia and shear stress; a series of integrative clinical vignettes aimed at exemplifying common disease conditions in which endothelial cells play a causal role in pathophysiology and disease progression. Course emphasizes learning how state-of-the-art methods can be applied to studies of developmental biology, molecular biology and animal models in an attempt to improve our understanding of endothelial cells and/or offer unique therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent disease.  Spring. Caron, Jin, Tzima.

PHYI 840 - Advanced Concepts in Physiology: Renal/Cardiovascular Systems in Health and Disease (3.0)
15 sessions. Physiology and pathophysiology of the renal and cardiovascular systems. The focus is on cell signaling and mechanisms that regulate: the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, renal excretion of sodium, and extracellular fluid volume. Integrative blood pressure control in health and pathogenesis of hypertension in diseased and genetically modified animals. Format is in-depth discussions of journal articles of original research.  Spring: Arendshorst, Faber, Goy, staff.

Crosslisted Courses:

PHYI/NBIO 722A - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology: INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL & DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY (10 sessions) (2.0)
Detailed course description  Prerequisite, permission of course director. This introductory block covers basic molecular biology, as applied to neurons, and an overview of developmental neurobiology. Fall. Stuart and faculty.

PHYI/NBIO 722B - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology: NEUROTRANSMITTER RECEPTORS (11 sessions) (2.0)
Prerequisite, permission of course director. This block considers membrane receptor molecules activated by neurotransmitters in the nervous system, with emphasis on ligand binding behavior and molecular and functional properties of different classes of receptors. Fall. Stuart and faculty.

PHYI/NBIO 722C - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology: Electrical Signaling (17 sessions) (2.0)
Prerequisite, permission of course director. This block considers the genesis of electrical impulses in the nervous system with an emphasis on membrane potentials, voltage-gated and mechanically-gated ion channels, and structural features of neurons that influence coding. Fall. Sealock.

PHYI/NBIO 723A - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology: SYNAPTIC MECHANISMS AND INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING (22 sessions) (2.0)
Prerequisite, permission of the course director. This block explores synaptic transmission: the mechanisms regulating the release of neurotransmitters from nerve terminals, including quantal release, vesicle and terminal membrane proteins, neurotransmitter transporters, and synaptic plasticity; and the biochemical signal transduction events following activation of neurotransmitter receptors including G-protein coupling, desensitization, signaling specificity, downstream effectors, calcium signaling and tyrosine kinases. Spring. Stuart and faculty.

PHYI/NBIO 723B - Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology: CNS: ANATOMY AND FUNCTION OF SENSORY AND MOTOR SYSTEMS (19 sessions) (2.0)
Prerequisite, permission of the course director. This block introduces the sensory pathways of vision, audition, taste, olfaction, pain, and touch, as well as the motor pathways of the spinal cord, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and motor cortex.  Mechanisms of sensory information processing and motor execution are discussed.  The section includes sessions on human brain neuroanatomy and brain imaging. Spring. Stuart and faculty.

PHYI/NBIO 724 - Developmental Neurobiology (3.0)
Prerequisite, permission of the instructor. A survey of nervous system development emphasizing detailed analysis of selected research topics such as neuronal induction, neural crest development, neuronal differentiation, synapse formation, neurotrophic factors, glial development, and the effects of experience. Fall. Crews, Polleux and faculty.

PHYI 850 - Seminar in Neurobiology (Biochemistry 850/ Neurobiology 850/Pharmacology 850) (3.0)
Prerequisite, permission of the director of the Neurobiology Curriculum. An intensive consideration of selected topics and problems. The course focuses on the development of presentation and evaluation skills of the trainees. Spring. Faculty of the Neurobiology Curriculm.