B5850 - CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY

Learning outcomes

This course provides students with an advanced knowledge of cellular neurobiology and molecular mechanisms of brain functions, as well as to make students able to apply this knowledge to specific aspects of nervous system physiopathology. This course is an overview of advanced topics in neurobiology and is designed to introduce and discuss the biological models, the techniques and the research strategies employed in this research field, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying the structure and function of the nervous system. The course is divided into three general topic areas: cell biology of the nervous system, molecular mechanisms in the brain functions and their alterations in neuropathologies. At the end of the course, the student is able to: understand and discuss properly main aspects of nervous system physiopathology; read and comprehend scientific articles; use this neurobiology background for advances experimental purposes.

Course contents

1. Advanced Methodological Approaches in Neurobiology: From optogenetics to neuroimaging, brain atlas.
2. In Vitro and In Vivo Models in Neurobiology: From primary cultures to brain organoids, with an introduction to related ethical issues.
3. Cellular Neurobiology: Cells of the nervous system, their interactions, and communication systems. Biology and physiology of neurons. Oligodendrocytes and the myelin sheath. Astrocytes and microglia.
4. Molecular Neurobiology: Biochemical, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cognitive brain processes, such as synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory (from invertebrates to mammals).
5. Developmental Neurobiology: Molecular mechanisms underlying the origin of various CNS cell types, cell migration, axonal formation, synapse stabilization, activity-dependent CNS development, critical periods, and neural plasticity. Neural stem cells and adult neurogenesis.
6. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Brain–Environment Interaction: Gut–brain axis and circadian rhythm regulation.
7. Alterations in Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology in Neuropathologies: Neurodegenerative diseases, prion disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Readings/Bibliography

Luo L., Principles of Neurobiology, 1st ed.

Research articles and reviews will be provided to supplement this text.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include both frontal lectures and discussion with the class of scientific articles on different topics presented in frontal lectures.

Assessment methods

The assessment method consists of an oral examination. During the exam, students are required to discuss one of the scientific articles among those presented during the course. The article is decided by the student and discussed in an open-book manner, without ppt presentation. Then the exam will continue with two questions made by the teacher on other two topics covered during the course. The final grade is given by the average of the assessments obtained in the discussion of the article and of the other two topics discussed during the exam,each of which is worth one-third of the final evaluation.

Teaching tools

The material used for lectures (power-point presentation), as well as articles will be made available to students on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Monti