Topics: Brain, hormones, stress, development, endocrinology, pharmacology, neuroscience, gene-envrionment interactions, molecular biology.
The course addresses the question of how stress hormones via regulation of gene expression influence the interaction between environment and the nervous system, and how changes in stress hormone signalling can lead to neuropathologies. Stress hormones turn out to be essential for the activation of specific genetic information, both in normal and the diseased brain. Stressful experiences in critical time-windows of development can induce gene-environment interactions that increase an individual’s vulnerability to develop stress-related brain disorders.
Stress en Neuronal communication: Introduction and electrophysiological techniques.
Genomic and non-genomic steroid hormone effects on the brain
Identification and analysis of glucocorticoid molecular targets
Learning and memory, and the development of the stress system
Gene-environment interactions: epigenetics
Oral presentation of assigned research proposals
Coordinator
Mw. Dr. N.A. Datson
Students
Students Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biology.
Admittance demands
Knowledge on Neuropharmacology and Endocrinology is recommended.
Method of instruction
Lectures and research proposal assignment
Required reading
- Rang, Ritter & Dale, Pharmacology:
*Chapter 3: How Drugs Act: Molecular Aspects *Chapter 27: The Pituitary and the Adrenal Cortex
2. Kandell & Schwartz: Principles of neural sciences, 4th edition:
*Part I (chapter 1-3): The Neurobiology of Behavior *Chapter 15: Neurotransmitters *Chapter 49: The Autonomic Nervous System and the Hypothalamus (from p.974 ‘The Hypothalamus Intergrates Autonomic and Endocrine Functions with Behavior’).
Studying the literature before the start of the lecture series is required.
Examination
Take home exam, plus writing, presentation, and defense of research proposal
minimal amount of students
Minimum number of students 12, maximum number 24.
Time table
From 13—20 March 2009. The course is full time; In the mornings there will be lectures, while in the afternoons the students will work on their research proposals.
During the course, attending students will have to make a written research proposal, which has to be presented and defended on 27 March.
See the schedule of the lecture series in the master study guide 2008—2009.
Application
Apply to dr. N.A. Datson (tel. 527 62 22 , n.datson@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl)
Remarks
For applications and information, please contact dr. N.A. Datson (tel. 527 62 22 , n.datson@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl).