BISC306 - LAVERTY

BISC 306, GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY

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    Welcome to the BISC 306, General Physiology course page. Here you will find the course syllabus, sample exam, outlines of class notes and specific reading/problem assignments for each semester exam.
 

• REVIEW MATERIAL FROM CHAPTERS 1, 2 AND 4
 
Chapter 1: Internal environment, homeostasis, body fluid compartments

Chapter 2: ions, polar molecules (incl hydrogen bonds, water), solutions (incl mol solubility, concentrations, H+ ions and acidity), Organic molecules (know basics of structure of carbohydrates fatty acids, phospholipids and proteins).

Chapter 4: Binding sites (affinity, saturation); regulation of binding (allosteric, covalent); enzymes; regulation of enzyme reactions.
 
 

• SPECIFIC READINGS (NOT COVERED IN CLASS)
 
Chapter          Topic                                        Pages

3                          Tight junctions                                      45
6                          Osmosis                                            130-134
7                          Acclimatization                                  152-153

**      7                          Calcium as a second messenger            168-170
10                        Growth hormone secretion                   283
                                (summary example)
8                          Synaptic Effectiveness                        202-203
                                (presynaptic synapses, Fig 8-32)
**      8                           Autonomic N.S. 217-220
9                           Receptors  (sensory)                          228-230
• OUTLINE OF TOPICS COVERED IN CLASS

 

 
 
 
 
 

A. Concepts for review

1. ions in solution
2. bioelectricity
3.ligand-protein interactions: allosteric effects; binding properties
B. Biomembranes
1. Composition: phospholipids, proteins (integral and peripheral), carbohydrates
2. hydrophobic properties
3. fluidity: phospholipid factors that influence fluidity
C. Transport Across Membranes
1. simple diffusion through bilayer
Fick's eq
partitioning (partition coef)
2. diffusion through pores or channels (ions) on diffusion of ions (electromotive force)
dual driving forces on diffusion of ions (electromotive force)
properties of channels
selectivity
types of gating mechanisms (ligand, voltage, mechanical)
3. Facilitated Diffusion
cell uptake of glucose through GLUTs
4. Primary active transport: eg Na/K-ATPase
transporter changes affinities for substrates on opposite sides of bilayer
role of ATP in forcing transitions/affinity changes (organizes transporter operation)
5. secondary Active transport: eg, SGLT glucose transporters
role of Na binding & Na gradient in driving active glucose transport
6. Model of epithelial transport: two step, vectorial transport of glucose by intestinal cells
requires asymmetrical distribution of transporter proteins ("polarized cell")
requires tight junctions to restrict movement between cells (compartmentalizes)
D. Endocrine Systems
1. general features
classical glands vs neuroendocrine
types of molecules (proteins, amino acids, steroids)
general aspects of signal systems
cytoplasmic vs surface receptors
receptor up and down-regulation
G-proteins
second messengers
kinase cascades
2. Example of steroid hormone action: aldosterone
aldo secreted from adrenal cortex in response to decreased blood volume...acts of kidney cells to increase Na and water absorption
mechanisms of action: increase protein synthesis of ENaC channel subunits
3. Epinephrine and stress
epi from adrenal medulla acts on liver to increase glycogenolysis (raise blood glucose)
surface receptor (G-protein coupled receptor)
G-protein, adenylate cyclase activation, cAMP as second messenger
protein kinase A activation, kinase cascade (importance??)
4. Cholecystokinin (CCK) and fat digestion:
CCK released from intestinal I cells in presence of fat, CCK acts on pancreas to increase release of lipases into intestinal lumen
CCK surface receptor; G-protein coupled; activation of phospholipase C
PIP2 breakdown into IP3 and DAG, both signaling molecules
IP3 induces release of Ca from ER compartment (ligand gated channel)
DAG activates PKC cascade
5. Vertebrate Pituitary
structural features: lobes, functional connections to hypothalamus, portal blood vessels
examples of hormones from each lobe
endocrine "heiracrchy" or axes
6. Cortisol and long-term responses to fasting
cortisol from adrenal cortexacts on skeletal muscle to increase gluconeogenesis (raise blood glucose)
hypothalamic control via CRH, into portal blood vessels
activate release of ACTH from anterior lobe
ACTH activates release of cortisol from adrenal cortex
long and short loop feedback regulation of cortisol
7. Redundancy and convergence
multiple hormones acting on single target cell
Gi proteins can balance effects of Gs proteins
alpha vs beta receptors for epinephrine
E. Neuronal communication systems
1. morphological characteristics of nerve cells (dendrites, soma, axons, axon terminal, synapses)
2. cellular neurophysiology
recordings of membrane PD from non-excitable vs excitable cells
characteristics of action potentials (APs)
all or none (pre-programmed behavior, amplitude, time course)
threshold or trigger level
overshoot
frequency coding of stimulus strength
refractory period
Equilibrium potentials and Nernst eq. (know how to predict changes in resting membrane PDs with change in ion concentrations
resting membrane PD (steady state) vs potassium equilibrium potential (Ek)
Ionic basis of AP
cell depolarizes, overshoots and moves towards ENa
changes in Na and K conductances
inward vs outward currents
voltage gated Na and K channels (m, h and n gates)
Hodgkin positive feedback cycle of Na channel opening
relative kinetics of different gates accounts for time course of AP
refractory periods:
inactivation state---absolute refractory period
K channels open, residual outward current---relative refractory
spike initiating zone (axon hillock) region of highest Na channel density
3. propagation of Aps along cell membrane
patch to patch spread of current (within cytoplasm)
each "patch" fires a new AP as Na channels enter Hodgkin cycle (self-regenerative)
Myelin: allows for saltatory condction (node to node), increased conduction velocity
4. Overall organization of nervous system
central vs peripheral
sensory (afferent) vs motor (efferent)
peripheral efferent somatic vs autonomic
monosynaptic reflexes (kneee jerk reflex)
5. Synapses
overall (generalized) structual organization (eg neuromuscular junction)
presynaptic structures vs postsynaptic
presynaptic synapses
role of presynaptic calcium channels
neurotransmitters
postsynaptic electrical responses (ligand gated channels)
EPSPs (and EPPs)--excitatory, inward currents)
IPSPs--inhibitory (outward currents)
convergence of post-synaptic currents at spike initiating zone
summation and integration (analog to digital conversion)
temporal summation
spatial summation
6. The auditory sense neuronal pathway
structure of Organ of Corti of inner ear
basilar and tectorial membranes: mechanotransduction (mechanically-gated channels)
hair cell : role of stereocilia, receptor potential, release of neurotransmitter
1st order sensory neuron: generator potentials, APs initiated in SIZ
APs conducted to CNS

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Principles underlying function of organisms at the organ, tissue and cellular levels. The major areas covered will be membrane function, neurophysiology, skeletal muscle, endocrine systems, cardiovascular function, respiration, osmoregulation and ion balance, acid base balance, metabolism, and digestive systems. A comparative approach will be used. This is a 4 credit course with required laboratory.

PREREQUISITES: 2 semesters of biology and 2 semesters of chemistry

CLASSES: Mon, Wed, Fri, 9:05-9:55; 130 Smith

OBJECTIVE: To gain an understanding of the basic physical, chemical and biological principles involved in the interactions of cells and organ systems in a complex organism.

TEXT: Vander, Sherman and Luciano; Human Physiology, The Mechanisms of Body Function, McGraw Hill, 8th ed, 2001

Text reading is extremely important; material from readings will be on the exams, whether covered in class or not.

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Gary Laverty 313 Wolf Hall, 831-8180;  laverty@udel.edu

Office Hours: Mon (1:00-2:00), Tues (9:30-10:30), Thurs (2:00-3) Or by appointment (walk-ins usually welcome)

COURSE WEBPAGE: http://www.udel.edu/Biology/laverty/306home.html

LABORATORY: Laboratory participation is required as BISC 367 (1 cr). Exercises are designed to complement the material covered in the classroom. A lab grade will be assigned, based on quizzes and written lab reports. See separate lab syllabus for more information.

GRADES: There will be three hour-long tests given during the semester and a fourth, cumulative final exam given during final exam week. The format of all exams will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer (including sketches, etc). Exams will cover the material from the lectures and from text readings assigned for each examination period. Occasional problems or short readings may also be assigned to supplement specific areas. Generally, lectures will emphasize the most important points covered in the readings. The final grades will use a plus and minus letter grading scheme. Grades will be based on a point total of 400 points as follows

                                                      three hour exams@ 100 points each ............300

    final exam @ 100 points ............................100
 
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TOTAL ..................       400

DATES         TOPICS                                                             CHAPTER/PAGES
 

Aug 29                  Introduction to course                                                         1(2-9); 2 (14-32)
                                                                                                                             4(53-65)

Sept 7, 10, 12, 14    Endocrine systems                                                              7(144-149; 159-172)
                                                                                                                     10(263-283)

Old Test #1