54576 - Cytology and Histology (A-L)

Learning outcomes

Purpose: the course aims to teach the general aspects of the structure and function of the cell, tissues, and their embryological origin. The goal of this course is to enable students to recognize the cell and tissue structure under the microscope.

Course contents

Purpose: the course aims to teach the general aspects of the structure and function of the cell, tissues, and their embryological origin. The goal of this course is to enable students to recognize the cell and tissue structure under the microscope.

Course of Cytology and Histology for Biological Science students Prof L. Alibardi Cytology

-Cell Theory, types and size of cells, prochariotes and euchariotes. Methods for the study of cells and tissues (microscope types, classic histology after fixation, electron microscopy, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization, cell organelles separation by ultracentrifugation).

-Cell Membrane: ultrastructural characteristics, molecular composistion (glycids, lipids and proteins), membrane proteins and their function.

-Cytoplasm: cytosol, ions and water, glycogen and lipids, metabolism, glycolisis and fermentation.

-Cytoskeleton, ribosomes, nucleic acids and protein synthesis. Rough endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomal targeting (signal sequence), glycosilation and secretory pathways. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum and lipid synthesis.

-Golgi apparatus: ultrastructure and relationships with the endoplasmic reticulum. Glycoprotein processing, targeting, glycosilation modifications. Lysosomes: formation, segregation and activation of lytic enzymes, primary and secondary lysosomes.

-Endocytosis: pynocytosis and phagocytosis, cell targeting and vesicle transport

-Mitochondria: ultrastructural aspects and biochemical activities, oxidative metabolism, Krebs' cycle, lipids and amino acids catabolism, respiratory chain, proton pumps and ATP synthesis. Peroxisomes: biogenesis and metabolic activities.

-Nucleus: membrane and pores, chromosomes and chromatin organization (eu- and hetero-chromatin). DNA structure, genomes and gene structure, DNA duplication during the cell cycle, DNA recovery, teleomers and telomerases action. Introduction to the nucleolous.

-Cell division in prochariotic and euchariotic cells, cell cycle and its control, growth factors, mitosis and chromosomes separation, membrane separation, gametes and meiosis,, disjunction, gametogenesis and gamete differentioation (spermiogenesis and oogenesis).

-Transcription: activation and regulation in prochariotes and euchariotes. Transcription factors and transcriptional complex; introns and exons, maturation of the mRNAs, splicing, canonical transcriptional control or through non-coding small RNAs. Synthesis and maturation of ribosomal RNAs, nucleolous and ribosome assembling. Synthesis and maturation of tRNAs. Cell death (apoptosis and necrosis).

-Origin and evolution of the cell: abiotic synthesis of biomolecules, origin of macromolecules, organization of informational networks (RNA-Proteins, RNA-DNA, DNA-RNA-Proteins). Metabolic pathways, evolution of the euchariotic cell, cell division and pluricellular organisms.

Embryology Fertilization and egg types, cleavage and segmentation models, presumptive maps, types of gastrulation and embryonic layers, neurulation, placentation, cell interactions and embryonic induction, patterning and cell differentiation, transcriptional factors, gametes differentiation, cell movements in the embryo, morphogenesis and histogenesis, regeneration and stem cells.

Histology epithelial tissue and cell junctions, exocrine and endocrine glands, connective tissue and cell types, extracellular matrix (collagens, GAGs, extracellular matrix proteins), types of connectives, fat tissue (white and brown) and metabolism; cartilage (hyaline, elastic, fibrous), bone formation and ossification (membranous and endochondral), bone remodeling; blood, cell types and functions (red and white cells, platelets), blood vessels, immunitary system (antibodies, B- and T- cells, and immunitary responses); muscle tissue, histogenesis and types of muscle cells, contraction mechanism and role of calcium; nervous tissue, histogenesis of neurons and glial cells, cytological characteristics of neurons (type I and II) and glial cells (ependyma, astrocytes, oligo- and micro-roglia), genesis and propagation of the nerve impulse, myelinization, synapses and neurotransmitters.

Laboratory demonstrations

Study and interpretation of electron microscopic images relative to cell organelles in differe cells. Description and observations using the light microscope of some exemplificative sections of embryonic and adult tissues (epithelia, glands, connectives, cartilage, bone, blood, muscle and nervous tissues).

Readings/Bibliography

Advised books:

-Purves WK et al.: Elementi di Biologia e genetica, Zanichelli

-Purves WK et al: La Biologia dello sviluppo e i processi evolutivi, Zanichelli

-Cardellini et al. Citologia e istologia, Idelson-Gnocchi

-Gartner LP, Hiatt JL: Istologia, EDISES

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Alibardi