Syllabus – Spring 2014

Course: CELL/NSCI 4200 and CELL/NSCI 6200Merged Course: 4200-6200 General Endocrinology Spring 2014 (Blackboard.tulane.edu)CRN: 26145/6/7/8

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University (Uptown Campus)

Course timings: 11:00a.m – 12:15 p.m Tuesdays and ThursdaysPlace: Dinwiddie 102 Instructor: Dr. Nandini VasudevanOffice: 1003A (Basement), Percival Stern HallEmail: nandini@tulane.eduPhone: 504-862-3158. Office hours: No formal office hours are scheduled by the instructor. Appointments to meet with the instructor can be made by email. Please allow 24 hours to receive a response. The nature of the courseThis course deals with the basics of hormone action. It will look at hormone interactions with their receptors, with particular emphasis on molecular aspects of homeostasis. Physiological outcomes, using different organs as examples, will be discussed. Every topic will attempt to include a discussion on pathological outcomes of aberrant hormone action.

Learning outcomesThis course aims to

a) make the student aware of various aspects of hormone signaling and b) feedback mechanisms that control homeostasis.c) the functional consequences of hormone signaling for homeostatic mechanisms. d) Pathological outcomes resulting from aberrant hormone signaling.

Textbook: There is no required textbook for the course. A number of textbooks will be used as need be, for the courses. Some books are e-books and can be downloaded freely with a Tulane account.

a) Molecular Endocrinology Franklyn F. Bolander, Jr; 3rd edition (2004) Elsevier Inc, NY, NY. ISBN: 978-0-12-111232-5 (e-book).

b) Signal Transduction Bastien D. Gomperts, Ijsbrand M. Kramer and Peter E.R. Tatham; (2002) Elsevier Inc, NY, NY. ISBN: 978-0-12-289631-6. (e-book).

c) Williams Textbook of Endocrinology Kronenberg, Melmed, Polonsky and Larsen; 11th ed (2008). Saunders Elsevier, PA. ISBN: 9781416029113 (e-book).

d) Basic Medical Endocrinology H Maurice Goodman; 4th edition (2009) Elsevier Inc, NY, NY. ISBN: 978-0-12-373975-9.

e) Essential Reproduction. Martin Johnson; 6th ed (2007). Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA. ISBN: 978-1-4051-1866-8.

f) Hormones. Norman and Litwack (eds); 2nd edition; 1997; Academic Press, San Diego, CA.

g) Neuroendocrinology in Physiology and Medicine Edited by P.Michael Conn and Marc E. Freeman. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. ISBN:0-89603-725-8.

Website: We will use Blackboard. Lectures (powerpoint) will be uploaded as will sample tests (in word). Reference material (pdf, word, powerpoint) will also be present on the website if needed. Method of instruction: This course will rely on lectures based on the textbooks as well as supplementary material, such as papers and articles. All material (textbook and supplementary material) used during the lectures will be referenced in class for every topic. Whenever needed, lectures will be facilitated by handouts. Lectures (Microsoft Office for Mac 2011—Powerpoint but compatible with Windows versions of Office) will be put up on the web prior to each lecture. Students are expected to be review the previous lectures before they come to class. Students are also advised to print out slides for the day’s lecture before they come to class. Grading:Grading differs, depending on the course that you are registered for.

Grades for undergraduates, registering for 4200-01, will be determined as follows:

Item (Exam) Number Value/each item

Test I 1 25%Test II 1 25%Test III 1 25%Test IV 1 25%Total 4 100%

Tests: Exams will be entirely reflective on the material in the syllabus and include material taught in class. In addition, sample tests, which detail the kind of questions that will be on the tests, will also be put up on the website prior to some, but not necessarily all, of the tests. There will be five announced tests given during the spring semester (See Syllabus for dates and contents covered by the tests). Four of these are during the semester and one is during the final exam period (to be announced by the University). Tests will comprise a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. The best four out of five tests will be taken towards the final score and each of the four tests will comprise

25% of the final grade. No make up tests will be awarded, with the following exception:

a) You miss two tests with a valid reason. A doctor’s note must accompany both missed tests.

In this case, an “universal” make up comprising the entire syllabus, will be given during study break toward the end of the semester. If you miss only one test, that will count as your drop test.

Grades for graduates, registering for 6200-01, will be determined as follows:

Item (Exam) Number Value/each item

Paper presentation 1 12%Test I 1 22%Test II 1 22%Test III 1 22%Test IV 1 22%Total 5 100%

TestsExams will be entirely reflective on the material in the syllabus and include material taught in class. In addition, sample tests, which detail the kind of questions that will be on the tests, will also be put up on the website prior to some, but not necessarily all, of the tests. There will be five announced tests given during the spring semester (See Syllabus for dates and contents covered by the tests). Four of these are during the semester and one is during the final exam period (to be announced by the University). Tests will comprise a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. The best four out of five tests will be taken towards the final score. No make up tests will be awarded, with the following exception:

a) You miss two tests with a valid reason. A doctor’s note must accompany both missed tests.

In this case, an “universal” make up comprising the entire syllabus, will be given during study break toward the end of the semester. For graduates, there is a paper presentation comprising 10% of your grade at the end of the course. Paper presentation will be done in “teams”. The composition of teams and papers will be given out at the end of Feb.

Designated letter grades (no curve):

Numerical Grade Equivalents (%)

100-93= A 92-90= A-

89-87= B+ 86-83= B 82-80= B-

79-77= C+ 76-73= C 72-70= C-

69-67= D+ 66-60= D Below 60= F

Academic Integrity/Academic Dishonesty: All University and Newcomb-Tulane College policies regarding academic integrity/academic dishonesty apply to this course and the students enrolled in this course. Refer to the following URL for further details on the academic integrity policies: http://college.tulane.edu/code.htm. Academic dishonesty can result in assignment of "F" by the course instructor or "WF" by administration as the final grade for the student. Tentative syllabus for the course Module Topic DatesI Hormones and signaling A Overview: What to expect? What is endocrinology? 14th January 2014

B The molecular mechanism of signaling in cells by protein hormones

16th Jan and 21st

C Molecular mechanism of signaling by steroid hormones 23rd

Test 1 (covers Module I): Sample test available on website

28th Jan

II The hypothalamic-pituitary axis A Hypothalamus 30th Jan

B Principles of neuroendocrine regulation 4th Feb

C Anterior pituitary hormones: GnRH/GH 6th February and 11th Feb

D Posterior pituitary hormones 13th February and 18th Feb

Test 2 (covers Module II): Sample test available on website

20th Feb

III Non-reproductive organsA Thyroid gland and thyroid hormones 25th and 27th Feb

B Pancreas: Insulin and Glucagon 11th and 13th March

C Endocrine control of food intake/obesity 18th MarchTest 3 (covers Section III A-C) 20th March

D Adrenal cortex 25th March and 27th March

E Adrenal Medulla 1st April

F HPA axis regulation (Guest Lecture: Dr. Tasker) 3rd April

Test 4 (covers Section III D-F): 8th April

IV Reproduction: Hormones and Organs

A Estrogen and androgen control of the reproductive cycle 10th and 15th April

B Pregnancy and parturition 17th

C Paper Presentation (graded by instructor and undergraduates)

22nd and 24th April

D 29th April Last day of class/spare

Test 5 Section IV TBD