Schedule

BCSC 243: Lecture Schedule

* Items in italics can be found on Blackboard Reserves

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Date
Topic
Readings/Assignments
08/30
Neurochemistry: Intro to the class and review
 
PART ONE: Synaptic Neurochemistry: Neurotransmitters
09/01
Introduction to Chemically Mediated Synaptic Transmission
Brady, et al., Ch. 12
09/04
NO CLASS -- LABOR DAY
 
09/06
Acetylcholine Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 13 up to p. 266
09/08
Catecholamines Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 14 up to p. 293
09/11
Serotonin Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 15 up to p. 313
*QUIZ 1: Biogenic amines: Ach, DA, NE
09/13
Glutamic Acid Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 17 up to p. 347
09/15
GABA and Glycine Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 18 up to p. 368
Review Quiz 1
09/18
Neuropeptides Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 20 up to p. 400
Functional Consequence of Peptide Transmitter Co-release Chemical Coding of Neurons and Plurichemical Transmission Neuropeptides in Psychiatric Disease (optional)
*QUIZ 2: Serotonin, glutamate and GABA
09/20
Journal Club: Co-Release of GABA and Neurotensin
 
09/22
Journal Club: BDNF and serotonin in BLA
 
09/25
Other Chemical Messengers: Retrograde Messengers and Extraneuronal Messengers Lecture
Brady et al., Ch. 19, 29
Novel Neurotransmitters and their role in disease (optional)
09/27
EXAM 1
 
PART TWO: Synaptic Neurochemistry: Postsynaptic Cell Signaling Mechanisms
09/29
Receptors: Recognition Site Lecture
Brady, Ch. 4, pp. 65-80
McGonigle-Molinoff receptor recognition
10/02
Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Ligand-gated Ion Channels Lecture
Brady, Ch. 13, pp. 266-274 (Nicotinic Receptor)
Ch. 17, pp. 347-358 (Glutamate Receptors)
10/04
Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Ligand-gated Ion Channels Lecture
Brady, Ch. 18, pp. 368-end (GABA Receptors)
10/06
Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Second Messenger Systems Lecture
Brady, Chs. 21, 22, 23
10/09
Journal Club
 
10/11
Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Second Messenger Systems Lecture
Ch. 14, pp. 293-end (Catecholamine Receptors)
Ch. 15, pp. 313-end (Serotonin Receptors)
Ch. 13, pp. 274-end (Muscarinic Receptors)
Ch. 19, pp. 382-end (Adenosine Receptors)
Ch. 20, pp. 400-end (peptides)
10/13
Catchup, Discuss final projects
*QUIZ 3-General receptors and ligand gated channels
10/16
NO CLASS -- FALL BREAK
 
10/18
Workshop 1 in class
 
10/20
Phosphorylation and Brain Function Lecture
Brady, Chs. 25, 26
*Symposium outlines due
10/23
Importance of Calcium to Brain Function Lecture
Brady, et al., Ch. 24
*QUIZ 4: Metabotropic receptors and phosphorylation
10/25
Journal Club: Long term nicotine signaling/Ca++
 
10/27
EXAM TWO
 
PART THREE: Metabolic Chemistry
10/30
Transcription factors Lecture
Brady, et al., Ch. 27
Hymen, S.E., Nestler, E.J. (2004) Principles of Molecular Biology. In: Charney, D.S. and Nestler, E.J. (Eds.) Neurobiology of Mental Illness, Second Edition, pp. 76-86.
11/01
Epigenetic Mechanisms Lecture
Brady et. al, Ch 41 Box pp. 731-733
Borelli, E., Nestler, E.J., Allis, C. D., Sassone-Corsi, P. (2008) Decoding the epigenetic language of neuronal plasticity. Neuron, 60:9661-974.
11/03
Survival and Death of Neurons, Adult neurogenesis Lecture
Brady, et al., Ch. 37
Zhao, C., Deng, W., Gage, F.G. (2008) Mechanisms and functional implications of adult neurogenesis. Cell, 132: 645-660.
Kempermann, G. (2008) The neurogenic reserve hypothesis: what is adult hippocampal neurogenesis good for? Trends in Neuroscience, 31:163-169.
*Symposium outline due
11/06
Glia lecture
*QUIZ 5: Gene expression regulation
11/08
Journal Club: human vs. mouse glia paper
 
11/10
Transmitter roles during development Lecture
Ben-Ari, Y. (2002). Excitatory actions of GABA during development: the nature of the nurture. Nature Reviews, Neuroscience, 3:728-739.
Represa, A. & Ben-Ari, Y. (2005). Trophic actions of GABA on neuronal development. Trends in Neuroscience, 28: 278-283.
11/13
Workshop 2 in class
 
11/15
Neurochemistry of Aging lecture
DeCarolis, N. et al (2015) The Role of the Microenvironmental Niche in Declining Stem-Cell Functions Associated with Biological Aging. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, vol. 5.
11/17
Journal Club: Noggin and aging paper
 
11/20
EXAM THREE
 
11/22
NO CLASS THANKSGIVING BREAK
 
11/24
NO CLASS THANKSGIVING BREAK
 
PART FOUR: Presentations
11/27
Symposium 1
 
11/29
Symposium 2
 
12/01
Symposium 3
 
12/04
Symposium 4
 
12/06
Symposium 5
 
12/08
Symposium 6
 
12/11
Symposium 7
 
12/13
Symposium 8
 
Final papers DUE December 1, 2023 via email

Possible Symposia Topics

  • Neurochemical Mechanisms of Plasticity: Learning and Memory: Brady et al., Ch. 56
  • Neuropathology Underlying Alzheimer’s Disease, Brady et al., Ch. 41, 46
  • Basal Ganglia Function and Dysfunction: Brady et al., Ch. 41, 47, 48, 49
  • Addiction: Brady et al., Ch. 61
  • Sleep: Brady et al., Ch. 57
  • Neurochemistry of Schizophrenia: Brady et al., Ch. 58
  • Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Brady et al., Ch. 60
  • Neurobiology of epilepsies: Brady et al., Ch. 40
  • Neurobiology of Autism: Brady et al., Ch 59
  • Neurobiology of Sensation: Brady et al., Ch. 51, 52, 53

Papers: 8-10 pages, 12 pt font, references and images do not count against page limit. Papers should include at least 3-5 primary research articles as sources to support a central thesis in line with the oral presentation. May include your own ideas for experiments or future directions based on the current knowledge in the field or any ongoing conflicts in the literature. References should be cited in text as (Smith et. al., 2009) as well as in an alphabetical list at the end of the paper including authors, year, title, journal, volume, pages as
Smith, A., Jones, S, and Roberts, T. (2009) Acetylcholine receptor dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Neuroscience Vol. 88 pp. 209-214. Pasted hyperlinks to articles will not be considered references and points will be deducted. Direct quotations are not appropriate in this paper. If an AI like Chat GPT is used to clean up scientific language, the original document must be turned in alongside the ‘cleaned’ version.