35461 - Cellular Physiology with Exercises

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will have a broad  knowledge of  cell physiology. The student will know the basic concepts of ion fluxes through the plasma membrane in excitable cells, of the signal transduction pathways in sensory receptor cells and of the structural and functional plasticity of the synapses. A part of the lessons and of the laboratory practice will permit him to acquire the basic information on how to use the principal techniques to measure the biolectrical signals from a cell population or a single cell.

Course contents

Functional properties of the cells of the human body: cellular organization of tissues, organs and functional systems in the human body; composition of intracellular and extracellular milieus; principles of cellular homeostasis and its physiological and pathological modulations; chimico-physical basis of cellular electrical phenomena

Mechanisms of intercellular communication: structure and functions of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors; signal transduction mechanisms and their modulation; structure and function of ion channels; functional roles of ion channels in excitable and non excitable cells; genetic and transcriptional channelopathies; ionic and molecular basis of learning and memory processes

Laboratory techniques for the analysis of cellular functions: Methods for the preparation of primary and secondary cultures of mammalian cells; analysis of the activity of channel proteins by molecular and functional approaches

Readings/Bibliography

Official text book
Silverthorn - Human physiology: an integrated approach
Fifth edition; Pearson editor

Reference book:
Taglietti, Casella- Principles of cellular physiology and biophysics
Editor: La gogliardica pavese

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons and lab practice

Assessment methods

The verification of the learning ability will be assessed only through a final oral exam. The exam will consist of a question on one of the arguments of the proposed learning program.

Teaching tools

Power point presentation

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Ferroni