Study Programmes 2015-2016
SBIM0470-1  
Principles of neuroendocrinology
Duration :
20h Th
Number of credits :
Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS)4
Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS)4
Lecturer :
Charlotte Cornil, Anne-Simone Parent
Language(s) of instruction :
French language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Course contents :
Neuroendocrinology is a sub-filed of neuroscience that studies how the nervous system controls the activity of endocrine glands and how hormones influence brain functions. The control of reproduction, sexual behavior, growth or energitic balance are functions regulated by neuroendocrine systems.
            This field is thus at the junction between cellular and molecular biology and the analysis of higher brain functions such as behvaior or memory. The course will present the anatomic and functional bases of the different neuroendocrine systems and will illustrate their integration through the detailled analysis of selected systems. The analysis of these systems will be supported by concrete experimental examples.
 
Table of content
Introduction
-       Definition and vision of the course
 
Basic principles
-       Neuroendocrine systems and feedback mechanisms
-       Functions and pathologies
-       Hormone types and receptors
-       Synthesis pathways and associated pathologies
 
Control of reproduction
-       Puberty in normal and pathological subjects
-       Fertility (ovarian cycle) in normal and pathological subjecs
-       Behavior
 
Sex differences
-       Sex differences in brain and behavior
-       Mechanismes involved in Sex determination and sexual differentiation
 
Homéostasie
-       Neuroendocrine control of appetitite and energy balance
 
Cognition
-       Role of estrogens
-       Menopause
Hormonal control of mood
Learning outcomes of the course :
A the end of this course, students will be able to :
-       understand basic principles of neuroendocrinology (mode of action of hormones, feedback systems, ...) and the fundamental  role played by hormones the survival of organisms
-       understand how hormones regulate complex behaviors
-       understand how hormones influence the establishment of sex differences
- critically analyze a research paper in neuroendocrinology
- critically describe and analyze scientific results shown in class or similar
- reason about new problems based on class material
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Passive knowledge of English (reading only)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course will consist of presentations by the teachers of basic concepts developped in chapters from the reference textbook. These chapters along with one or two research papers highlighting original data will be provided a few weeks prior to each class in order to stimulate an active exchange between students and teachers. Questions might be asked ahead of time in order to evaluate the integration of prepared concepts. 
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings :
The course is mostly based on the books « Handbook of Neuroendocrinology » by G. Fink, D. Pfaff and J. Levine and "An introduction to behavioral endocrinology" by Randy J. Nelson (4th edition).
Assessment methods and criteria :
The final grade will be divided into a grade attributed to participation in class (20%), a paper based on a bibliographic search on a list of given topics (20%) and a final written exam (60%). The written exam will consist of multiple choice questions to evaluate basic knowledge and open questions to evaluate the understanding of major concepts discussed in class.
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
The class will be given in the meeting room of the GIGA-Neurosciences, B34, +1. Monday 9 to 11am.
Contacts :
Dr Charlotte Cornil, charlotte.cornil@ulg.ac.be (04/3665966)
Dr AS Parent, asparent@ulg.ac.be (04/3662546)