Biology | University of Parma

Professor
Academic discipline: Fisiologia (BIO/09)
Field: Discipline fisiologiche e biomediche
Type of training activity: Characterising

22 hours
of face-to-face activities

3 credits

hub: PARMA

course unit
in - - -

lectures timetable unavailable

exam calls

Integrated course unit module: GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY - MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY

Learning objectives

Aims to provide deeper knowledge of membrane excitability within the the specific context of cardiac physiology, autonomic and pharmacological modulation.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of cell biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and mathematics.

Course unit content

Molecular mechanisms of cellular excitability, particularly for what concerns cardiac excitability. Excitatio-contraction coupling, mechanism of cardiac pacemaker and its autonomic modulation.

Full programme

1. ion channels: structure, function, pharmacology. Gap junctions: structure, function, gating
2. the current clamp technique and the measure of passive electrical properties
3. the voltage clamp technique and the study of membrane ion currents
4. gating theory for the fast sodium current
5. patch clamp technique and single channel currents
6. the heart: action potential of pacemaker cells; intrinsic cellular regulation of heart beat; intrinsic regulation of cardiac working cells action potential; autonomic mechanisms of heart rate and cardiac contractility

Bibliography

Robert M. Berne e Matthew N. Levy: FISIOLOGIA - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana - (VI edizione 2010)

Slides of the course and further material are provided on-line to the students

Teaching methods

oral lessons with projection of slides

Assessment methods and criteria

final oral examination

Other information

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MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY cod. 13550