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Guido Li Volsi is
professor of physiology at the University of Catania -
I.
He teaches Physiology to students of the
Degree in Biological Sciences and Cell
Physiology
to students of the Master's Degree in Cellular and
Molecular Biology.
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Physiology (9 ECTS)
The course aims to
investigate issues
relating to the basic mechanisms of animal cell
including the
interaction with other cells.
General iformation about organs and system are given.
Topics
The cell membrane
Exchanges
between cells and
environment: Permeability of the membranes - diffusion in the lipidic matrix - Ion channels - Osmosis - mediated transport (facilitated
diffusion) - Transport
passive and active primary and secondary
- Mediated by transport
vesicles.
Transmembrane ion fluxes and membrane potential electrical properties
Ionic Equilibria
Electrochemical
Potential
Genesis and
maintenance of membrane
potential
Excitable cells
Gated ion
channels - Genesis and conduction of
action potential in
nerve cells and
muscle
- Refractory
- Accommodation
- Speed of conduction and myelination - Basics of
ionic potential in
myocardial fibers - the contractile
mechanism of
skeletal and smooth muscle fibers - Ca2+
ions in muscle
contraction - Excitation-contraction coupling
Intercellular communication
Communication
mechanisms (autocrine,
paracrine, endocrine) - Local Messengers -
Membrane Receptors and intracellular receptor
- G protein and second
messengers - hormones - synaptic transmission - Synapses: electrical
and chemical properties - Exocytosis and
Ca2+ - Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators
The coding of sensory
information
Receptors
(tactile,
thermal, proprioceptive,
visual, auditory,
vestibular, gustatory,
olfactory) - The reflex arcs
General
information about
organs
and systems
The digestive function, cardiovascular function, respiratory function -
osmoregulation and
excretion - Metabolism
and temperature -
the reproductive
function
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Cell Physiology (7 ECTS)
The course
aims to investigate
issues relating
to the operation of animal cell including
some mechanisms of interaction with other
cells and the interstitium.
Special
attention is given to the
problems associated with the control of
cellular functions, the role of intracellular ion
channels in the homeostasis
of the environment,
both in terms of electro-chemical and physical view. A
separate section is concerned
to elucidate the
mechanisms of growth, regeneration,
protection, feedback
control.
Finally, we
examined the
physiological mechanisms in
special or extreme conditions.
Topics
General - Physiology of
mitochondria - regulation of cell
functions through the extracellular calcium
Cellular
responses to hormones
Sodium-calcium exchange
current
Adjustment of
intracellular chloride
Cell volume regulation
Role of glia in the
homeostasis of
water and ions
The membrane
transport in red
blood cells
Ion channels
in excitable
cells
Ion channels in
sperm
Ion channels in the
egg
Biophysics of the nuclear membrane
Modification of ion
channels during development
Chemo-dependent
ion channels
Voltage-gated ion
channels
Mechano-sensitive
ion channels
Stimulus-response coupling
in metabolic sensors
Growth
Factors
Birth and regeneration of
synapses
The protection mechanisms
Control of activities
cellular
Hepatocyte
physiology
Cellular
mechanisms of learning
Effects of high
pressure on cellular
processes
Effects of ionizing radiations
on cellular processes
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