Neuroscience/BCS 243 - Fall, 1998

Neurochemical Foundations of Behavior

Tuesday, Thursday, 9:40-10:55

Professor Carol Kellogg

Office: Meliora 186, x5-4801 Office Hours: After class or by appointment

Lab: Meliora 125, x5-8457 e-mail: kellogg@bcs.rochester.edu

Web: http://www.bcs.rochester.edu/neuro/

Course Intent:

This course is intended to introduce you to the field of neurochemistry. There are four cornerstones to modern neurochemistry: chemical composition and architecture, metabolic neurochemistry, chemistry of neural transmission, and methodologic development. About half of the course will cover the chemistry of neural transmission and a quarter will cover chemical composition and metabolism. The discipline of behavioral neurochemistry includes topics that range from study of the neurochemical mechanisms that underlie normal behavior to behavioral sequellae that result from severe neurochemical abnormalities. These issues will be considered in the final quarter of the course in a unit designated as functional neurochemistry. However, throughout the course, the functional aspects of all neurochemical mechanisms will be discussed. An introductory knowledge of biochemistry will be helpful in understanding the material presented.

Text:

Basic Neurochemistry, Fifth Edition. Siegel, G.J., Agranoff, B., Albers, W., and Molinoff, P. (eds.), Raven Press, 1994.

Additional Sources (On Reserve in Carlson Library)

Cooper, J.R., Bloom, F.E., Roth, R.H. (1996). The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology. Oxford University Press, NY. This book contains detailed chapters on mechanisms of chemical neurotransmission.

Feldman, R.S., Meyer, J.S., Quenzer, L.F. (1997). Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology., Sinauer Assoc., Inc., Sunderland, MA. This book contains a great deal of detailed information on neurotransmitter mechanisms, but it is not particularly easy reading.

Examinations:

The course is arranged into four units. An in-class exam will be given at the end of each of the first three units. A take-home exam will cover the fourth unit. The take-home exam questions will be handed out at the last class period and the exam will be due on the day that the final exam for the course is scheduled. Each exam will account for 25% of your final grade. The in-class exams involve data analysis and interpretation. The take-home exam will be an essay format and the answers will require integration of diverse material.

Course Schedule and Assigned Readings

* On Reserve, Carlson Library

September 1: Neurochemistry: An Overview.

Introduction to Chemically Mediated Synaptic Transmission

Siegel, et al., Ch. 9

PART ONE: Synaptic Chemistry: Presynaptic Mechanisms

September 3: Acetylcholine

Siegel et al., Ch. 11

8: Catecholamines

Siegel et al., Ch. 12

10: Serotonin

Siegel et al., Ch. 13

15: Amino Acids

Siegel et al., Chs. 17 and 18

17: Peptides, Transmitter Co-existence

Siegel et al., Chs. 15 and 16

*Furness, J.B., Morris, J.L., Gibbins, I.L., Costa, M. (1989) Chemical Coding of Neurons and Plurichemical Transmission. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 29:298-306.

22: Other Chemical Messengers

Siegel et al., Ch. 19

*Lancaster, J.R. (1992). Nitric oxide in cells. American Scientist, 80: 248-259.

24: EXAM ONE

PART TWO: Synaptic Neurochemistry: Postsynaptic Mechanisms

29: Receptors: Recognition Site

Siegel et al., Ch. 10

October 1: Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Siegel, Ch. 11, pp. 248-254 (Nicotinic Receptor)

Ch. 17, pp. 374-381 (Glutamate Receptors)

Ch. 18, pp. 391-398 (GABA and Glycine Receptors)

6: Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Second Messenger Systems

Siegel et al, Chs. 20 and 21

Ch. 12, pp. 270-289 (Catecholamine Receptors

Ch. 13, pp. 295-306 (Serotonin Receptors)

Ch. 11, pp. 254-259 (Muscarinic Receptors)

Ch. 19, pp. 410-413 (Adenosine Receptors)

8: Importance of Phosphorylation to Brain Function

Siegel, Ch. 22

13: Importance of Calcium to Brain Function

*Kennedy, M.B. (1989). Regulation of neuronal function by calcium. Trends in Neuroscience, 12: 417-420.

*Ghosh, A. and Greenberg, M.E. (1995). Calcium signaling in neurons: Molecular mechanisms and cellular consequences. Science, 268:239-247.

Siegel, et al., Ch. 3, pp. 63-66; Regulation of Intracellular Ca2+

15: EXAM TWO

PART THREE: Cellular and Molecular Neurochemistry

20: Maintenance of a Proper Chemical Environment

Siegel et al., Ch. 32

22: Carbohydrates and Energy Metabolism

Siegel et al., Chs. 31 and 42

*Iadecola, C. (1997). Bright and dark sides of nitric oxide in ischemic brain injury. Trends in Neuroscience, 20: 132-139.

Siegel, et al., Ch. 40, pp. 848-854; Hypoxic encephalopathy

27: Amino Acids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids

Siegel et al., Chs. 24 and 25

29: Brain Lipids: Role in Membrane Structure and
Neural Degeneration

Siegel et al., Chs. 2 and 5

*Halliwell, B. and Gutteridge, J.M.C., (1985). Oxygen radicals and the nervous system. Trends in Neuroscience, 8: 22-26.

*Mattson, M.P. (1998). Modification of ion homeostasis by lipid peroxidation: roles in neuronal degeneration and adaptive plasticity. Trends in Neuroscience, 21:53-57.

November 3: Brain and Hormone Relationships

Siegel et al., Ch. 49

*Schumacher, M. (1990). Membrane Effects of Steroid Hormones. Trends in Neuroscience, 13: 359-362.

5: EXAM THREE

PART FOUR: Functional Neurochemistry

10: Neurochemical Aspects of Neuroplasticity

Siegel et al., Ch. 50

*Brown, T.H., Chapman, P.F., Kairiss, E.W., and Keenan, C.L. (1988). Long-term synaptic potentiation. Science, 242, 724-727.

*Glanzman, D.L. (1995). The cellular basis of classical conditioning in Aplysia Californica - it's less simple than you think. Trends in Neuroscience, 18: 30-36.

*Holscher, C. (1997). Nitric oxide, the enigmatic neuronal messenger: Its role in synaptic plasticity. Trends in Neuroscience, 20:298-303.

*Levine, E.S. and Black, I.B. (1997). Trophic factors, synaptic plasticity, and memory. Ann. N.Y. Academy of Science, 835:12-19.

12: Neurochemical Considerations in Stress Responses

*Sapolsky, R.M. (1992). Neuroendocrinology of the stress response. In: Behavioral Endocrinology, M.B. Becker, S.M. Breedlove, and Crew, D. (Eds.), MIT Press, Cambridge, pp. 287-324.

*Brier, A. and Paul, S.M. (1990). The GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor: Implications for the molecular basis of anxiety. J. Psychiat. Res., 24:91-104.

*Charney, D.S., Grillon, C., Bremner, J.D. (1998). The neurobiological basis of anxiety and fear: Circuits, mechanisms, and neurochemical interactions (Part I). The Neuroscientist, 4:35-44.

17: Neurochemical Basis of Major Psychiatric
Disorders

Siegel et al., Chs. 47,48

*Chrousos, G.P. and Gold, P.W. (1992). The concepts of stress and stress system disorders. J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 267: 1244-1252.

*Weinberger, D.R. (1987). Implications of normal brain development for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Arch. Gen Psychiat., 44:660-
669.

*Goldstein, M. and Deutch, A.Y. (1992). Dopaminergic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. FASEB J., 6: 2414-2421.

*Lesch, K-P. (1998). Serotonin transporter and psychiatric disorders: Listening to the gene. The Neuroscientist, 4:25-34.

19: Gender Specific Behavior and Neurochemistry

*Breedlove, S.M. (1992). Sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior. In: Behavioral Endocrinology, Becker, J.B., Breedlove, S.M., and Crews, D. (Eds.), MIT Press, Cambridge, pp. 39-68.

*Swaab, D.F. and Hofman, M.A. (1995). Sexual differentiation of the human hypothalamus in relation to gender and sexual orientation. Trends in Neuroscience, 18: 264-270.

*Pilgrim Ch. and Reisert, I. (1992). Differences between male and female brains - Developmental mechanisms and implications. Horm. metab. Res., 24: 353-359.

24-26: Thanksgiving Recess

December 1: Neural Targets of Abused Drugs

Siegel et al., Ch 41

*Koob, G.F. (1992). Drugs of abuse: Anatomy, pharmacology and function of reward pathways. Trends in Pharmacol. Science., 13:170-176.

*Blum, K., Cull, J.G., Braverman, E.R., Comings, D.E. (1996). Reward deficiency syndrome. American Scientist, 84:132-145.

*Nestler, E. (1995). Molecular basis of addictive states. The Neuroscientist, 1:212-220.

3: Neurochemistry of motor functions

Siegel et al., Ch. 44

Robertson, H.A. (1992). Dopamine receptor interactions: Implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Trends in Neuroscience,
15:201-206.

Chiel, H.J. and Beer, R.D. (1997). The brain has a body: Adaptive behavior emerges from interactions of nervous system, body and environment. Trends in Neurosci., 20:553-557.

8: Video: MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease

10: Review: Hand Out final exam

19: Final Take-Home Exam Due by 4:00 p.m.