Neuroscience/BCS 243 - Fall, 1999

Neurochemical Foundations of Behavior

Tuesday, Thursday, 9:40-10:55

Instructor: 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
   
Workshop Leader: Andrew Epstein e-mail: ae005e@uhura.cc.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, Sixth Edition. Siegel, G.J., Agranoff, B.W., Albers, R.W., Fisher, S.K., Uhler, M.D. (eds.), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1994.

Additional Sources (On Reserve in Carlson Library)

Cooper, J.R., Bloom, F.E., Roth, R.H. (1996). The Biochemical Basis of Neuropharmacology, Seventh Edition. Oxford University Press, NY. This book contains detailed chapters on mechaisms 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 inofrmation on neurotransmitter mechanisms, and it has good chapters on schizophrenia, mood disorders, and Parkinson's Disease. But all the chapters in the book contain considerable detail.

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

Date   Topic Assignment
September
2:
 Neurochemistry: An Overview

Introduction to Chemically Mediated Synaptic Transmission

 Siegel, et al., Ch. 10
PART ONE:   Synaptic Chemistry: Presynaptic Mechanisms  
September
7:
 Acetylcholine Siegel et al., Ch. 11

Cooper, Bloom, and Roth, Ch. 7
 
9:
 Catecholamines Siegel et al., Ch. 12
 
14:
 Serotonin Siegel et al., Ch. 13
 
16:
 Amino Acids Siegel et al., Chs. 15 and 16

Cooper, Bloom, and Roth, Ch. 6
 
21:
 Peptides, Transmitter Co-existence Siegel et al., Ch. 18

*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.
 
23:
 Other Chemical Messengers: Retrograde Messengers and Extraneuronal Messengers Siegel et al., Ch. 17

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

*Silver, R., Silverman, A.-J., Vitrovic, L., Lederhandler, I.I. (1996), Mast cells in the brain: Evidence and functional significance, TINS, 19:25-31.
 
28:
 EXAM ONE  
PART TWO:   Synaptic Neurochemistry: Postsynaptic Mechanisms  
 
30:
 Receptors: Recognition Site *Cooper, Bloom, Roth, Ch. 4
October
5:
 Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Ligand-gated Ion Channels Siegel, Ch. 11, pp. 228-235 (Nicotinic Receptor), Ch. 15, pp. 316-323 (Glutamate Receptors), Ch. 16, pp. 337-345 (GABA and Glycine Receptors)
 
7:
 Receptor-Effector Mechanisms: Second Messenger Systems Siegel et al, Chs. 20, 21, 22, Ch. 12, pp. 253-260 (Catecholamine Receptors), Ch. 13, pp. 276-284 (Serotonin Receptors), Ch. 11, pp. 235-240 (Muscarinic Receptors), Ch. 17, pp. 352-358 (Adenosine Receptors), Ch. 18, pp. 375-381 (peptides)
 
12:
 Importance of Phosphorylation to Brain Function Siegel, Chs. 24, 25
 
14:
 Importance of Calcium to Brain Function Siegel, et al., Ch. 23
 
19:
 EXAM TWO  
PART THREE:   Cellular and Molecular Neurochemistry  
 
21:
 Maintenance of a Proper Chemical Environment Siegel et al., Ch. 32
 
26:
 No Class, Neuroscience Meeting  
 
28:
 Carbohydrates and Energy Metabolism Siegel et al., Chs. 31, 34
November
2:
 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids Siegel et al., Chs. 19, 26, 9

*Siegel et al., Fifth Edition (1994), Ch. 24, "Gene expression in the nervous system."
 
4:
 Brain Lipids: Role in Membrane Structure and Neural Degeneration Siegel et al., Chs.2 and 3

*Halliwell, B. and Gutteridge, J.M.C., (1985). Oxygen radicals and the nervous system. Trends in Neuroscience, 8:22-26.
 
9:
 Brain and Hormone Relationships Siegel et al., Ch. 49
 
11:
 EXAM THREE  
PART FOUR:   Functional Neurochemistry  
 
16:
 Neurochemical Aspects of Neuroplasticity Siegel et al., Ch. 50

*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.
 
18:
 Neurochemical Considerations in Stress Responses: Neural basis of coping

 

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

*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.

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

*McEwen, B.S. and Magarinos, A.M. (1997). Stress effects on morphology and function of the hippocampus. Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 821:271-284.
 
23:
 Neurochemical Basis of Major Psychiatric Disorders Siegel et al., Chs. 51,42

*Weinberger, D.R. (1997). The biological basis of schizophrenia: New directions. J. Clin. Psychiatry, 58 (Suppl. 10): 22-27.

*Petty, F., Davis, L.L., Kabel, D., Kramer, G.L. (1996) Serotonin dysfunction disorders: A behavioral neurochemistry perspective. J. Clin. Psychiatry , 57 (suppl 8): 11-16.
 
25:
 Thanksgiving Recess  
 
30:
 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.
December
2:
 Neural Targets of Abused Drugs Siegel et al., Ch 53

*Nestler, E. (1995). Molecular basis of addictive states. The Neuroscientist, 1:212-220.
 
7:
 Neurochemistry of motor functions Siegel et al., Ch. 45

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

*Reddy, P.H., Williams, M., Tagle, D.A. (1999). Recent understanding of the pathogenesis of Huntington's Disease. Trends in Neuroscience, 22: 248-255.
 
9:
 Video: MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease; Hand out final exam  
 
18:
 Final Take-Home Exam Due by 4:00 pm