Duration
20h Th
Number of credits
| Master in biomedicine (120 ECTS) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit 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
Endocrine disrupters
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
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
- summarize and orally present a new chapter
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 (Lectures 1 to 4) combined with oral presentations (about 45 min) first in group (lectures 5 and 6), then individually (Lectures 7 to 9), on a given topic based on chapters from the reference textbooks. The presentations will be followed by interactions between students and teachers to ensure the proper understanding of discussed concepts. These chapters along with one or two research papers highlighting original published data will be provided to all students at the beginning of the quadrimester in order to stimulate active participation of all students. Questions will be asked during and after the presentations to evaluate the integration of presented and prepared concepts.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
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
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
One part of the evaluation will be based on the quality and content of the presentations as well as on the answers to the questions asked during and after the presentation. These questions will be asked to all students not only the presenters. A final evaluation will consist of the presentation of the results of an original article (journal club style) chosen within a predefined list available before the exam period. This presentation (15 min) will be followed by questions regarding the critical analysis of the data and the theoretical aspects of the course. The final grade will be weighed as follows: 15% for each group presentation, 30% for the individual presentation and 40% for the final evaluation.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Dr Charlotte Cornil, charlotte.cornil@uliege.be (04/3665966)
Dr AS Parent, asparent@uliege.be (04/3662546)