Course Title:  ENDOCRINOLOGY           

Course Code: ZOL-617

Credit Hours: 4(3+1)

Introduction

This course will provide knowledge about endocrine glands, their anatomy, the hormones released from them and the physiological role of these hormones in body. Endocrinology involves the evaluation and management of disorders of the body’s glands, hormonal secretions, and resultant changes in body metabolic activity. The course is designed to provide an understanding to structures and function of endocrine glands. It also provides an understanding of the common endocrine disorders, metabolic regulations, and metabolic abnormalities, and their management. Furthermore, in all body cells, hormones influence the metabolism of nucleotides, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, water, and therefore, knowledge of endocrinology and metabolism is important.

Learning Outcomes

The students will study the endocrine system in terms of structure, function and its role in regulating metabolism, growth and reproduction in different animals, with reference to some disorders resulting from dysfunction. By the end of this course, the students should be able to examine and describe glands and can determine hormonal impact and syndromes.

Course Contents

An overview of general concepts and principles of endocrinology: The endocrine system; Type of hormones; Endocrine and nervous system relationship; General principles in function, interaction, nature, synthesis, transport of hormones; General concept of feed-back, biorhythms, pathology and assessment of endocrine function; Evolution of endocrine system.

Hypothalamus and pituitary: Hypothalamic hormones: Origin, chemistry and actions; Anterior pituitary & hormones: Hypothalamic pituitary regulation, General chemistry, Physiological action and metabolism of prolactin-growth hormone family, glycoprotein hormone family, corticotrophins and other pro-opiomelanocortin peptides; posterior pituitary: Release, regulation and actions of vasopressin and oxytocin.

Thyroid gland: Anatomy and histology of gland; Formation and secretion of thyroid hormones; Thyroid hormones in peripheral tissues, Regulation and factors affecting thyroid function.

Calciotrophic and Mineral Metabolism Hormones: Chemistry, physiological actions and metabolism of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and calciferols; Homeostasis of calcium, phosphate and magnesium.

Pancreatic Hormones and Regulatory Peptides of the Gut: Anatomy and histology for sources of the hormones; Chemistry, physiological roles and mechanism of action of insulin and glucagon; Physiological roles of gut peptides.

Adrenal Medulla and Catecholamines: Chromaffin cell and organization; Structure of adrenal medulla; Biosynthesis, storage, release and metabolism; Adrenergic receptors.

Adrenal Cortex: Steroid biochemistry; Physiological actions of corticoid hormones; Regulation and metabolism of glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and adrenal sex steroids.

Testes: Androgenic tissue: Structure and chemistry; Transport, metabolism and mechanism of action.

Ovaries: Ovarian hormones: Steroid biochemistry and biosynthesis; Transport, metabolism and mechanism of action.

Endocrinology of Pregnancy: Hormones in conception and implantation; Hormonal actions and adaptation in pregnancy and parturition.

Endocirnology of Lactation: Hormones in lactation.

Endocrinology of Heart, Kidney, Immune system: Growth and pineal gland.

Functional Diversity of Hormones in Vertebrates.

Overview of Endocrine Mechanisms in Invertebrates.

Practicals

1. Demonstration of endocrine glands and associated structures in dissections, transparencies, computer projections etc
2. Histological and ultra structure features of endocrine glands
3. Experiments to demonstrate physiological roles of hormones of different endocrine glands
4. Experiments to demonstrate regulation of hormones’ releases.
5. Experiments to demonstrate functional diversity of hormones in different vertebrates.
6. Experiments on endocrine mechanism in vertebrate

Recommended Texts

1. Greenspan, F. S., & Strewler, G. J. (2002). Basic and clinical endocrinology (5thed.). London: Prentice Hall International Inc.
2. Wilson, J. D., Foster, D. W., Kronenberg, H. M., & Larsen, P. R. (2008). William’s textbook of endocrinology. Philadelphia: W.D. Saunders Company.

Suggested Readings

1. DeGroot, L. J., & Jameson, J. L. (2001). Endocrinology (4thed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
2. Giffin, J. E., & Ojeda, S. R. (2000). Textbook of endocrine physiology (4thed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Sessional: 10%

                   Presentation: 5%

                   Participation:  5%

Practical: 15%

Midterm exam: 25 %

Final exam: 50%