NSC4370.

001 – NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY – Spring 2007

Lectures BCW 1.104
Mondays and Wednesdays 4:00 – 5:45 PM

Instructor Contact Information

Joseph Wood, PhD
JO 4.816 972-883-2571
woodj@utdallas.edu
Office hours: Wed. 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Teaching Assistant
Louie Nguyen, MBA, JD
louie.nguyen@comcast.net
Office hours: TBA

PREREQUISITES: a basic neuroscience course and/or a basic course

in the physiology of organ systems

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for those seeking a

better understanding of the effects of the nervous and endocrine systems and
their singular and/or combined effects on behavior and subsequently, the
effects of behavioral responses on the organ systems of the body. Important
underpinnings will be cellular structure and function; hormonal formation,
transport and release; receptor activity and feedback systems. Emphasis will
be on homeostatic mechanisms, biological rhythms, diseases, stress and
stress adaptation mechanisms.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1.1 To learn the language and concepts of neuroendocrinology with
emphasis on how the neuroendocrine system influences health and
behavior.
1.2 To be able to differentiate and interpret the specific roles of related
neurotransmitters, hormones and neurohormones, growth factors and
neuroregulators as well as the actions of peptides, amines, amino acids
and normal and abnormal metabolic products.
1.3 To understand and place into perspective the vital role of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the preservation of well-
being and in response to specific diseases and stress.
2.1 To fully understand the negative feedback systems at various operational
levels from the cellular, organ systems and organism levels.
2.2 To understand how one hormone may have its specific effect on an organ
or organ system in the body and yet evince an effect just as profound yet
different on the central nervous system.
3.1To be able to explain how no one system acts alone at any one time and
that numerous hormones and neurotransmitters may converge whether in
normal or abnormal function and produces effects totally unlike any single
event.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Conn, P.M. and M.E. Freeman - Neuroendocrinology in Physiology and
Medicine, Humana Press 2000 ISBN 0-89603-725-8
Additional readings from the current literature will be assigned in class

ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS:

ASSIGNMENTS: The course will be presented in segments.

Segment I will be concerned with the fundamentals of the endocrine

and the nervous systems, their interactions and the control effects
of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland (the hypothalamic-pituitary-
adrenal [HPA] axis) and the subsequent growth and development of
the body.
Pages 1 – 134; 181 – 240
EXAMINATION I – 14 FEBRUARY 2007

Segment II is concerned with the correlates of the neuroendocrine

system and its effects on the biology of organ systems of the body and
behavior plus introduction to the neuroimmune system.
Pages 107-180; 241-390; 509-526
EXAMINATION II – 28 MARCH 2007

Segment III involves a general overview of neuroendocrine regulation

of biological rhythms via circadian mechanisms and the actions of the
neuroenddocrine effects, in particular the HPA axis, in health and
health and disease.
Pages 391-474 and 475 – 508
EXAMINATION III – 30 APRIL
EXAMINATIONS: There will be three progress examinations. In this
particular course which involves highly interdependent subject matter
examinations will consist of analyses of case studies (scenarios), designs of
interactive events, explanations of how one or two body systems might have
an effect on behavior e.g. steroids and memory or an emotional experience
(fear) will elicit physiological responses via the autonomic nervous system.
Each question will be assigned a numerical value depending upon the
significant items or concepts within. There will also be short “completion”
answers of designated value.

GRADING POLICY
Each examination will have equal weight and represent one third of the final
course grade. The grading scale will be on a percentage basis with:
99-90 = A; 89-80 = B; 79-70 = C; 69-60 = D; 59 and less = F

COURSE INSTRUCTOR POLICIES

Due to the complexity of the subject matter, MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS
are not a part of this course. Only under the most trying situations will such
an exam be considered.
If NSC 4370 is being taken for graduate credit the student and the professor
must hold a conference BEFORE classes begin. The student will be
assigned a special project in addition to completing the scheduled course
assignments and examinations.
Inquiries regarding examination questions will be handled during office
hours and not before or after class or in the corridors. Any inquiries
regarding an examination must be completed within seven (7) days post-
examination.