Stream 1: -Entomology
ZOOL 4101: Insect Diversity, Society and Evolution
Theory
ZOOL 4101: Insect Diversity, Society and Evolution
Theory
Insect Society: group of social insects and their social life; evolution of sociality; social organization and social behaviour in honey bee, ants, termites and wasps. Insect Plant Interaction - Theory of co-evolution, role of allelochemicals in host plant mediation, tritrophic interaction, host-plant selection by phytophagous insects, establishment of insect population on a plant surface. Forensic Entomology: Introduction, forensically important insects, collection of data from cadaver site, interpretation of data for predicting time and cause of death.
Suggested Literature:
1. A general text book of entomology, Imms , A. D., Chapman & Hall, UK
2. Introduction to the study of insects, Borror, D. J., Triplehorn, C. A., and Johnson, N. F.,M Saunders College Publication, USA
3. Principles of Insect Morphology, Snodgrass, R. E., Cornell Univ. Press, USA
4. The Insect Societies, Wilson, E. O., Harward Univ. Press, UK
5. Host Selection by Phytophagous insects, Bernays, E. A., and Chapman, R. F., Chapman and Hall, New York, USA
6. Insect Plant Biology, Schoonhoven, L. M., van Loop, J. A., & Dicke. M. Pub. Oxford Univ. Press. USA
ZOOL 4101 - Insect Diversity, Society and Evolution
Practicals
Practicals
a. Study of head and its sclerites of Dysdercus, honeybee, grasshopper and cockroach.
b. Mounting and display of mouth parts of Dysdercus, housefly, honeybee, mosquita and butterfly.
c. Wings and their venation. Different types of antennae and legs of insects.
d. Mounting of stinging apparatus of honey bee.
2. Taxonomy:
a. Identification of insects up to super families.
b. Collection, preservation and identification of insects. Field studies of insects.
3. Social Insects:
a. Morphological and anatomical studies of various castes of Polistes, Apis, Camponotus, and Odontotermes.
b. Collection of various types of social insects and their nests. Sting apparatus of honey bee.
ZOOL 4102: Insect Physiology, Toxicology & Vector Biology
Theory
Theory
Structure and physiology of integumentary, digestive, excretory, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, and nervous system. Sensory receptors. Growth, metamorphosis and diapause in insect.
Definition of pesticides, brief history, pesticides registration, pesticide industries and markets. Dose-response relationship; mode of action of insecticide, carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects, and evaluation of toxicity. Group characteristics of insecticide, structure and function of organochlorine, organophosphorus, carbamate, pyrethrod, other plant origin as well as bio-insecticides, neonicotinoids and nitrogenous insecticides, fumigants, IGRs. Metabolism or degradation of pesticides - phase I and phase II reactions. Insecticide resistance and health hazards.
Introduction to vector biology, economic importance and control of fleas, lice, bugs, mosquitoes, flies and parasitoids. Vector-parasite interaction; host-pathogen interaction, Insect transmitting bacteria and viruses of medical, veterinary and agricultural importance; control of insect vector.
Suggested Literature:
1. The Insects: Structure and function, Chapman, R. F., Cambridge University Press, UK
2. Physiological system in Insects, Klowden, M. J., Academic Press, USA
3. The Insects, An outline of Entomology, Gullan, P. J. , and Cranston, P. S., Wiley Blackwell, UK
4. Insect Physiology and Biochemistry, Nation, J. L., CRC Press, USA
5. Toxicology and Risk Assesssment: A Comprehensive Introduction, Greim H., and Snyder, R. (ed), John Wiley and Sons, UK
6. The Complete Book of pesticide management, Whitford, F., Wiley Interscience, John Wiley and Sons, UK
7. Safer Insecticides, Hodgson, E., and Kuhr, R. J., (ed), Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, USA
8. Pesticide Application Methods, Matthews, G, A., Blackwell Science, London, UK
9. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, Wilkinson, C. F., Plenum Press, New York, UK
10. Metabolic pathways of agrochemicals Part II, Roberts, T. R., and Hutson, D. H. The Royal Society of Chemistry, UK
11. Medical and Veterinary Entomology Mullen, G. , Durden, L., Academic Press, USA
12. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, Kettle, D. S., Cabi Press, USA
13. Medical Entomology for students, Service, M. Cambridge University Press, UK
ZOOL 4102: Insect Physiology, Toxicology & Vector Biology
Practicals
Practicals
1. Physiology:
a. Dissection of alimentary canal of Dysdercus, honeybee, butterfly and grasshopper.
b. Filter chamber of homopteran; salivary glands of mosquito, honeybee and Dysdercus.
c. Excretory system detection of uric acid in malpighian tubules, uptake of dye in malpighian tubules.
d. Circulation: haemocyte count, estimation of protein in hemolymph.
e. Respiratory system: dissection of butterfly, Dysdercus and grasshopper.
f. Nervous system: dissection of Dysdercus, butterfly, honey bee and locust, stomodeal nervous system of cockroach and grasshopper.
2. Insect Toxicology:
a. Estimation of LD50 and LC 50 using insects.
b. Pesticide residue analysis of contaminated soil, vegetable and water using TLC, GLC and HPLC.
c. Studies on dissipation of pesticides from soil and half life estimation.
d. Estimation of uncertainty and variability in pesticide residue analysis.
e. Estimation of acetylcholinestarase activity to evaluate the toxicity of xenobiotic compounds.
3. Vector Biology:
a. Study of life history stages of medically important arthropods, diptera, anoplura, siphonoptera.
b. Identification and anatomical studies of major vector species of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes.
c. Field collection of immature stages of mosquitoes. Study of few available pathogens of arthropod-borne diseases.
ZOOL 4103: Pest Ecology & Agricultural Entomology
Theory
Theory
Pest - definition and its ecology, pest status, features responsible for evolutionary success of insect species, factors responsible for achieving the status of pest, Economic injury level, economic threshold, action threshold, pest spectrum, pest complex, carrying capacity, secondary pest out break, pest surveillance and sampling.
Population dynamics of pests - agro-ecosystem, phases of population fluctuation, models of population growth, factors for population fluctuation, population size and regulatory mechanisms.
Identification, seasonal history, biology, nature of damage and control measures of pests, of cereals, pulse crops, cotton, vegetables (summer vegetable and winter vegetable), oil seeds, fruit crops, sugarcane and stored grains. Locust- different species and phases, phase transition, periodicity, migration, biology and control measures
Integrated Pest Management: history, different phases of pest control, Quarantine, Physical, Cultural, Chemical, Biological control and, genetic and biotechnological methods of control.
Pheromones- production, and their use in pest surveillance and management
Plant resistance to insects: types of resistance, mechanism of resistance-antibiosis, antixenosis, tolerance, factors mediating resistance, JH Mimics & MH-agonist. Transgenic plants: history, Bacillus thuriengensis and its mode of action on insect, different sub species of Bt , development of Bt plant by recombinant DNA technology, resistance management of Bt crop, prospective and controversies of Bt crop.
Suggested Literature:
1. Ecology of insects, Speight, M. R., Hunter, M. D., & Watt, A. D., Wiley-Blackwell, UK
2. Insect Plant Biology, Schoonhoven, L. M., van Loon, J.A., & Dicke, M., Publisher Oxford University Press, USA
3. Interrelationship between insects and Plants, Jolivet, P., CRC Press, USA
4. Chemical Ecology of Insects, Carde, R. T., and Bell, W. J., Chapman & Hall, New York, USA
5. Entomology & Pest Management, Pedigo, L. P.,Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA
6. Concepts of IPM, Norris, Caswell-Chen and Kogan, Prentice-Hall, USA
7. Agricultural insects pests of the tropics and their control, Hill, D. S., Cambridge University Press, UK
ZOOL 4103: Insect Ecology and Agricultural Entomology
Practicals
Practicals
2. Methods of rearing insects in the laboratory.
3. Identification of important insect pests of different crop plants and stored products.
4. Visits to agricultural fields and forests for on spot study of pests and damage caused by them.
Stream 2: Fish Biology
ZOOL 4201: Evolution and Functional Anatomy of Fish
Theory
ZOOL 4201: Evolution and Functional Anatomy of Fish
Theory
Origin, diversity and distribution- origin and evolution of major groups of fishes, evolutionary strategies and morphological innovations, gene and genome duplication, evolutionary genetics, biogeographical distribution, methods employed in phylogenetic studies and fish identification, fish barcoding. Fish as a research model.
Body form, swimming mechanisms and buoyancy regulation- propulsive systems, hydrodynamic analyses, swimming modes, fish biomodelling, bioenergetics, strategies for buoyancy regulation. Gas exchange, internal transport and homeostasis- aquatic and aerial respiration, cardiovascular physiology, hematology, fish leucocytes, phagocytes, lymphoid organs, gas transport, osmoionic regulation, acid- base balance, nitrogen excretion and metabolism.
Sensory systems– photoreception, chemoreception, mechanoreception, electroreception. Adaptations to environmental extremes- temperature, pressure, stressors. Growth and metabolism- regulation of food intake by neuropeptides and hormones, environmental factors and feed intake, digestive physiology and nutrient digestibility in fishes, nutritional energetic, growth.
Defense mechanism– integument and Immune system, development of immune system, cells and tissues of the fish immune system, modulators of fish immune responses, humoral and cell mediated immune defense, fish antibody molecules and their effector functions.
Reproduction- reproductive strategies, environmental and endocrine factors regulating reproductive cycles, hormonal and molecular mechanisms of oogenesis, spermatogenesis, oocyte maturation and spermiation, fertilization, mechanism of sex determination, maternal factors in early development.
Endocrines- piscine endocrine glands, hormones and their role in appetite, osmoregulation, calcium metabolism, cardiovascular regulation and behaviour, hormone receptors in fish, endocrine disruption, behaviour and cognition -patterns of migration, orientation and homing, schooling, feeding, background adaptations, parental care.
Suggested Literature:
1. Biology of Fishes, Bone, Q. and Moore, R., Talyor and Francis Group, CRC Press, U.K.
2. The Physiology of Fishes, Evans, D. H. and Claiborne, J. D., Taylor and Francis Group, CRC Press, UK
3. The Senses of Fish Adaptations for the Reception of Natural Stimuli, von der Emde, R., Mogdans, J. and Kapoor, B. G., Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, INDIA
ZOOL 4201: Evolution and Functional Anatomy of Fish
Practicals
Practicals
1. Phylogenetic analysis of bony fish: morphological analysis; mtDNA polymorphisms; comparison of protein sequences and construction of phylogenetic tree.
2. Display of visceral organs; preparation of fish skeleton; alizarine preparation.
3. Collection of body fluids (blood sampling; urine collection; gamete collection).
4. Study of various hematological parameters. Fish immune system – isolation of phagocytes and phagocytosis.
5. Comparative study of digestive enzymes of herbivore, carnivore and omnivore fishes;
6. Estimation of apparent digestibility coefficient of consumed food by fish.
7. Oxygen consumption in relation to body size/stress/anesthesia.
8. Extraction, isolation and characterization of plasma vitellogenin and egg-yolk proteins.
9. Gametogenesis and in vitro meiotic oocyte maturation.
10. Primary cell and tissue culture; chromosome preparation.
11. Surgical procedures (effect of hypophysectomy on osmoregulatory parameters; effect of gonadectomy on fish)
12. Chromatophore responses to surgical and chemical procedures.
13. Visit to a fish market in Delhi, identification of dominant finfish and documentation of shellfish.
ZOOL 4202: Aquatic Resources and Their Conservation
Theory
Theory
Riverine fisheries- important river systems and their hydrological conditions, flora and fauna with special reference to fisheries, dams and their impact on riverine fisheries, fish ladders, interlinking of rivers and likely impact on fisheries. Cold water fisheries - ecology of hill streams, biology of important cold water fishes of India, recreational fishing.
Lacustrine fisheries - origin of lakes and lake morphology, light, temperature and density relationship in the lacustrine ecosystems, heat energy and water movements, oxygen and other dissolved gases in lakes, pH and redox potential, fisheries profile and potential of major Indian lakes. Estuarine fisheries- major estuarine systems of India, hydrography, flora and fauna with special reference to fisheries.
Marine fisheries – coastal and deep sea fisheries, permanent and seasonal stratification, upwelling, the photic zone, control of primary production by light and nutrients availability, chemical properties of sea water, biology of important fishes (sardine, mackerel, tuna), marine protected areas. Integrated resources- coastal wet lands, mangroves, coral reefs, sea grasses and their conservation.
Fishing techniques-- technologies for localizing catches- remote sensing, sonar, radar; crafts and gears.
Stock assessment and management-- Natural markers- morphological analyses, environmental signals, genetic analyses; Applied markers- marking and tagging, Stock identification data analysis - stock composition analysis, age and growth, fecundity estimation, application of statistical methods in fisheries. Fish conservation- fishing laws and regulation, permitting.
Post harvest technology-- Fish spoilage, rigor mortis, rancidity, enzymatic spoilage, microbial spoilage; Fish preservation and processing- handling of fish at harvest/onboard, principles of fish preservations, methods of preservation, problems associated with fish preservations, quality control, fishery by-products.
Aquatic pollution- types and sources, impact of pollution on aquatic organisms, ecosystem analysis- bio-indicators, biomonitoring, environmental factors and fish health, xenobiotics. Waste management- national and international standards. Extension services - basic principles and emerging issues of extension, role of information and communication technology in fisheries extension.
Suggested Literature:
1. Computers in Fisheries Research, Megrey, B. A. and Moksness, E. (2009), Springer, USA
2. Biological Invasions in Marine Ecosystems Ecological, Management and Geographic Perspectives. Rilov, G. and Jeffrey, A. C. (2009), Springer-Verlag, GERMANY
3. Handbook of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR, (2006), DIPA, New Delhi, INDIA
ZOOL 4202: Aquatic Resources and Their Conservation
Practicals
Practicals
2. Physico- chemical parameters of freshwater bodies.
3. Biological analysis of water and estimation of primary productivity.
4. Collection of phytoplankton and zooplankton from natural resources and their identification.
5. Study of benthic macroinvertebrates in natural water bodies.
6. Study of fishing gears and nets with the help of models.
7. Simulated experiments on population enumeration.
8. Salinity tolerance in select fishes.
9. Determination of age and growth; gonadosomatic index.
10. Length-weight relationship and condition factor determination.
11. Experiments on chemoreception using different attractants and repellents.
12. Toxicity testing with zooplankton/fish.
13. Visit to a coastal/ mariculture farm and study the socio-economic status of the fisherman community.
ZOOL 4203: Aquaculture
Theory
Theory
Culture technology– freshwater (carps, catfishes, murrels, prawns), brackish water (asian sea-bass, milk fish, mullets, crabs, shrimps), mariculture (mussels, oysters, sea weeds), fish food organisms (algae; Artemia; zooplankton). Water Quality Requirements for Aquaculture- Role of temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, Biological oxygen demand, Chemical oxygen demand. Integrated farming - fish-cum-live stock farming, paddy-cum-fish farming, aquaculture engineering- aquahouse, hatchery, ponds, race ways, recirculating system, cage, pen. Fish seed technology - natural collection, bundh breeding, induced breeding, cryopreservation of gametes. Transport of finfish and shellfish- transport of eggs, fry, fingerlings and adults.
Nutrition of aquatic animals - nutritional requirements of commercially important finfish and shellfish, dietary requirements of larvae and brooders, feed types, manufacture and ingredients, anit- nutritional factors in fish feed ingredients and their treatments, use of attractants and growth stimulants in fish feeds, alternative protein sources in aquaculture diets, feeding techniques, role of probiotics in nutrition. Setting up of display aquarium- freshwater and marine aquaria, selection of compatible species, breeding of aquarium fishes.
Role of genetics in aquaculture– gynogenesis, androgenesis, triploidy, tetraploidy, hybridization, sex reversal and breeding, production of transgenic fish, impact of GMOs on aquatic biodiversity. Fish health- infection and diseases in fish, common fish pathogens, routes of pathogen entry in fish, methods of colonization and spread of pathogens, immune - evasion mechanisms of fish pathogens. Environmental impact of aquaculture- aquacultural wastes and future developments in waste minimization, environmental consequences of hypernutrification. Fish vaccines-strategy and use in aquaculture.
Suggested Literature:
1. Fishponds in Farming Systems, Zijpp, V. D., Verreth, J. A. J., Tri, L. Q., van Mensvoort, M. E. F., Bosma, R. H., and Beveridge, M. C. M., Wageningen Academic Publishers, Netherlands
2. Aquaculture Principles and Practices, Pillay, T. V. R., Blackwell Publishing, USA
3. Aquaculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Genetic Approaches, Dunham, R. A., CABI Publishing, USA
ZOOL 4203: Aquaculture
Practicals
Practicals
2. Estimation of ovarian egg counts.
3. Culture of live food organisms and assay of nutritional quality of live food; estimation of population density of live food organisms.
4. Decapsulation and hatching of Artemia cysts for use in hatcheries.
5. Demonstration of breeding pools and hatcheries.
6. Induced breeding of Indian major carps and catfishes.
7. Identification of eggs, spawn, fry and fingerlings of cultivable fishes of India.
8. Collection and identification of aquatic weeds and aquatic insects.
9. Study of feeding habits of fishes by gut content analysis.
10. Isolation and estimation of fish immunoglobulins; Molecular techniques in fish health management.
11. Aquarium design and maintenance.
12. Formulation and preparation of artificial fish food for Indian major carps and Prawns.
13. Analysis of proximate composition of fish and processed products.
14. Visit to freshwater/ marine fish farm.
Stream 3: Genomics, Metagenomics and Epigenetics
ZOOL 4301: Genomics
Theory
ZOOL 4301: Genomics
Theory
Organization and structure of genomes - size, complexity, gene-complexity, virus and bacterial genomes, organelle genome, architecture of mitochondrial genome, conserved chloroplast DNA; organization and nature of nuclear DNA in eukaryotes; transposable elements, retro-teaspoons, SINE, LINE, Alu and other repeat elements, pseudogenes, segmental duplications
Mapping genomes - physical maps, EST, SNPs as physical markers, radiation hybrids, FISH, optical mapping, gene maps, integration of physical and genetic maps; sequencing genomes: high-throughput sequencing, strategies of sequencing, recognition of coding and non-coding regions and annotation of genes, quality of genome-sequence data, base calling and sequence accuracy.
Bioinformatics - datasets, sequence analysis based on alignment, de novo identification of genes, in silico methods. Comparative genomics - orthologs and paralogs, protein evolution by exon shuffling; human genome project, comparative genomics of bacteria, organelles, and eukaryotes
Large scale mutagenesis and interference - genome wide gene targeting; systematic approach, random mutagenesis, insertional mutagenesis, libraries of knock-down phenocopies created by RNA interference; transcriptome analysis, DNA micro-array profiling, data processing and presentation, expression profiling, proteomics - expression analysis, protein structure analysis, protein-protein interaction.
Suggested Literature:
1. Principle of Genome Analysis and Genomics, Primrose, S. B. and Twyman R. M., (7th Ed., 2006), Blackwell Publishing Company, Malden, USA
2. Genomes 3, Brown, T. A., Garland Science Publishing, London, UK
3. Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis, Mount, D. W., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, USA
ZOOL 4301: Genomics
Practicals
Practicals
2. PCR amplification and analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis.
3. Plasmid preparation
4. Restriction digestion and mapping.
5. Vector and insert ligation and PCR amplified product.
6. Transformation in E.coli
7. Transformation of recombinant plasmid
8. Induction of cloned gene with IPTG and analysis on SDS-PAGE.
9. In vitro packaing of lambda DNA, transfection and plaque formation.
10. Southern hybridization of genomic DNA with suitable gene as probe.
ZOOL 4302: Metagenomics
Theory
Theory
Introduction - from genomics to metagenomics, history of the culture divide, 16S rRNA analysis and culturing, culture independent insight, why genomics is not enough, global impact of metagenomics; next generation of DNA sequencing technologies and potential challenges, the developments and impact of 454 and Solexa sequencing.
Approaches to metagenomics analysis - 16S rRNA based survey, 16S rRNA – microarray (phylochip), sequence base analysis, functional based analysis, hetrologous expression, identifying active clones - clone screens, selection and functional anchors, identifying habitats and collecting metadata, gene expression system, single cell analysis; data management and bioinformatics challenges of metagenomics - genomics data, metagenomics data, the importance of metadata, databases for metagenomics data, software, analysis of metagenomics sequence data.
Pioneering projects in metagenomics - the acid mine drainage project, the Sargasso sea metagenomics survey and community profiling, the soil-resistome project, the human-micro biome project, viral metagenomics, large scale sequencing of mammoth DNA; metagenomics of gut: insects, mouse and human beings.
Ecological inference from metagenomics - symbiosis, competition and communication; the metagenomics of soil and soil health; microbial community - genomics in ocean; application of metagenomics - technical advancement in the field, application and expected benefits from large scale metagenomics data, application in human health, agriculture, industry and environment remediation.
Suggested Literature:
1. The New Science of Metagenomics: Revealing the secrets of our microbial planet, Academic press, Washington DC, USA
2. Metagenomics: Sequence from the Environment, NCBI
3. Next generation DNA sequencing, Nature Publishing Group, (Vol. 26 No.10 , Oct,2008)
ZOOL 4302: Metagenomics
Practicals
Practicals
2. PCR Amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequences from the metagenome.
3. Construction of phylogenetic trees and estimation of diversity.
4. Cloning of 16S rRNA genes sequences in pUC 18 or any other suitable vector.
5. Conformation of the insert by restriction digestion.
6. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of the clones and estimation of unculturable diversity.
ZOOL 4303: Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology
Theory
Theory
Chromatin structure - basic organization of a eukaryotic genome; histone - structure and function; nucleosome as the fundamental particle; 30 nm chromatin fibers, higher order structure of chromatin, chromatin-territories; intra-nuclear spatial organization of chromatin: MARs and SARs and their importance
Epigenetics - from phenomenon to field, a brief history of epigenetics - overview and concepts; chromatin modifications and their mechanism of action, concept of ‘histone-code’ hypothesis, epigenetics in saccharomyces cerevisiae, position effect variegation, heterochromatin formation, and gene silencing in Drosophila, fungal models for epigenetic research: Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Neurospora crassa; epigenetics of ciliates; RNAi and heterochromatin assembly, role of noncoding RNAs; epigenetic regulation in plants.
Chromatin structure and epigenetics marks - transcriptional silencing by polycomb group proteins , transcriptional regulation by trithorax group proteins, histone variants and epigenetics , epigenetic regulation of chromosome inheritance, epigenetic regulation of theX chromosomes in C.elegans, dosage compensation in Drosophila, dosage compensation in mammals; types mechanism of chromatin remodeling.
Epigenetics and genome imprinting - DNA methylation in mammals, genomic imprinting in mammals, germ line and pluripotent stemcells , epigenetic control of lymphopoiesis , nuclear transplantation and the reprogramming of the genome. epigenetics and human disease, epigenetic determinants of cancer.
Suggested Literature:
1. Epigenetics, C. David Allis and Thomas Jenuwein, (2007)Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, USA
2. Molecular Biology of Gene, Watson et al., (5th Ed. 2004), Pearson Education, Delhi, INDIA
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ZOOL 4303: Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology
Practicals
Practicals
1. Isolation of nuclei (as a source for studies on structure of chromatin) from rat/mouse liver by discontinuous sucrose-density gradient centrifugation.
2. Isolation of total histones, and resolution on SDS-PAGE.
3. Studies on modifications of histones (such as acetylation, methylation etc.) by western-blotting using modification-specific antibodies.
4. Expression and purification of recombinant histones.
5. Isolation and characterization of total nuclear proteins.
6. Digestion of nuclei by MNase and calculation of ‘repeat-length’ of nucleosomes.
7. Digestion of nuclei by DNase-I, and studies of DNA superhelicity in the nucleosomes.
8. Preparation and characterization of soluble-chromatin (10 and 30 nm chromatin-fibers).
9. Purification of and characterization of mononucleosomes
10. Reconstitution of nucleosome-core and PCR-amplified synthetic DNA.
11. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP).
Stream 4: Molecular Endocrinology and Reproduction
ZOOL 4401: Neuroendocrinology
ZOOL 4401: Neuroendocrinology
General organization of neuroendocrine organs and nervous system. Neuroanatomy: form, varieties and distribution of neurons; Structural characteristics of neurons; Stereotaxic atlas of rat brain and the hypothalamus. Neurophysiology: electrical properties of neurons and propagation of nerve impulses; Synapse: types, structure and function. Neurotransmitter and its release; Neuromodulation: neurotransmitter vs neuropeptides, Synaptic transmission: role of G-protein coupled, glutamate and on-channel linked receptors; GABA/glutamate neurons in adult preoptic area: sexual dimorphism and function.
The hypothalamo- hypophyseal axis. Hypothalamo- vascular system. Hormones from hypothalamus: chemistry and physiology of releasing and release inhibiting hormones; Regulation of hypothalamic hormone secretion. Hypothalamo- hypophyseal interactions with the gonads, adrenal and other endocrine organs. Diversity of ovarian steroid signaling in the hypothalamus. Development and cytology of pituitary gland. Regulation of pituitary hormone secretion. Neurohypophysis: synthesis and storage of oxytocin and vasopressin; Regulation of the release of neurohypophyseal hormones. Concepts of feed-back inhibition and feed-forward activation.
Regulation of the expression of POMC-related peptides and their differential expression in brain and pituitary. Environment and reproduction. Endocrine disruptors; Embryonic diapauses and other adaptive mechanisms. Biological clock and the pineal: synthesis and regulation of melatonin, phylogeny of pinealocytes, role of pineal in circadian rhythms, regulation of pineal by SCN and vice versa, physiological actions of melatonin, biological clock and clock gene expression, fluoride and pineal.
Neuroendocrine regulation of immune system; Stress hormones and immune responses; Regulation of systemic homeostasis by nervous and immune system interactions. Melatonin, immune responses and cancer therapy. Neuroendocrine disorders: genetic versus environmental cause. Principles and application of techniques: electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, autoradiography, in vitro perifusion
Suggested Literature:
1. An Introduction to Neuroendocrinology, Brown R., (1994), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
2. Psychoneuroimmunology, , Ader R, Felten D.L. and edited by Nicholas C. (4th Ed., 2007), Academic Press, UK
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3. Endocrinology (3 volumes set), DeGroot L. J. and Jameson J.L., Editors, (5th Ed., 2006), Saunders Elsevier Press, USA.
ZOOL 4401: Neuroendocrinology
Practicals
Practicals
1. Identification of hypothalamic nuclei following histological, histochemical and immunocytochemical methods.
2. Stereotaxic atlas of Hypothalamus.
3. Isolation and characterization of pituitary cells.
4. LH-RH assay/bio-assay.
5. Pituitary sensitivity to LHRH.
6. Stereotaxic devices and administration of stimulants.
7. Isolation of poly A-RNA from brain tissue.
8. Designing of primers for molecular cloning.
9. Effect of litter size on serum prolactin levels in lactating rats.
10. Tail-flick assay in mice and effect of endorphins.
11. Effect of restraint stress on phagocyte functions.
12. In vitro effect of glucocorticoid and catecholamines on phagocyte functions.
13. Effect of chemical pinealectomy and melatonin replacement therapy on phagocyte functions.
ZOOL 4402: Molecular Endocrinology
Theory
Theory
Discovery of hormones as chemical signals for control and regulation of physiological processes. Nature of hormonal actions. Major questions in biology of hormones. Techniques for quantitation of hormones. Design and development of hormonal assays.
Structure of peptide and protein hormones. Purification and characterization of hormones. Structure-Function relationships in different hormones. Phylogenic analysis of hormonal structures and functions. Biosynthesis of protein hormones. Storage and secretion of hormones: molecular mechanisms of regulation. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms of hormone biosynthesis and secretion. Regulation of biosynthesis and secretion. Inhibitors of hormone biosynthesis and their use.
Nature of hormonal effects and actions. Discovery of receptors in target tissues. Mechanisms of hormone action and signal attenuation.. Signal discrimination, signal transduction and signal amplification in hormone regulated physiological processes. Structural requirements for successful hormone-receptor interactions. Receptor antagonists and their applications. Metabolism of hormones by target and non-target tissues. Pharmacokinetics of hormones. Hormones and behavior- cellular and molecular actions of semiochemicals.
Suggested Literature:
1. Peer reviewed journal articles, monographs and reviews as and when recommended.
2. Molecular Biology of Steroid and Nuclear Hormone receptors, ed. Freedman L. P., (1998), Birkhauser, Boston, USA
3. Biochemical actions of hormones, ed. Litwack, G. (1985), Academic press, New York, USA
ZOOL 4402: Molecular Endocrinology
Practicals
Practicals
1. Isolation of protein hormone and demonstration of bio- activity in an in vivo bio- assay (e.g. FSH).
2. Immunocytochemical localization of a pituitary hormone using light or electron microscopy (e.g. Prolactin).
3. In vivo bio- assay for estrogen.
4. In vivo bio- assay for testosterone.
5. In vivo bio- assay for luteinizing hormone.
6. In vitro biochemical assay for a hormone (LH or PRL).
7. Effect of hCG on poly A rich RNA content in ovary.
8. Quantitation of specific transcript (mRNA) after ovarian stimulation by hCG or FSH.
9. Affinity purification of ovine/bubaline pituitary TSH.
10. Preparation and characterization of hormone- enzyme conjugate.
11. ELISA for any one hormone and estimation of plasma level.
12. Estimation of cAMP in a rat tissue (e.g. adipose) with and without hormone stimulation.
13. Streptozotocin administered rat model for diabetes.
14. Demonstration of phospholipase C action.
15. Molecular cloning of a protein hormone (e.g. buffalo prolactin).
16. Expression of recombinant buffalo prolactin in E.coli.
ZOOL 4403: Biology of Reproduction
Theory
Theory
Sex determination and differentiation: Mechanism of Sex determination, differentiation of gonad and the genital tract.
Stem cell renewal in testis, Spermatogenesis: structural and molecular events, experimental approaches to study spermatogenesis; Seminiferous epithelial cycle; Sertoli cell: structure and function; Leydig cell: generation of Leydig cell, steroidogenesis; Leydig and Sertoli cell proliferation during foetal and postnatal development; Regulation of testicular functions.
Epididymal maturation of spermatozoa; Capacitation, Signal transduction pathway in acrosome reaction; Male sterility: azoospermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, varicocele; Genetic basis for male infertility, Mutational analysis in genes for hormones, receptor and gamete development.
Follicular development and selection; Role of extra-and intra-gonadal factors in folliculogenesis; Oocyte maturation and its regulation; Ovulation: factors involved in follicular rupture; Luteinization and luteolysis; Follicular atresia.; Regulation of reproductive cycle in female: menstrual cycle in human, estrous cycle in rat, estrous behaviour in cycling animals; Female reproductive disorder: amenorrhea, polycystic ovary.
Fertilization: A comparative account on pre-fertilization events in oviparous animals (echinoderms-amphibians-mammals), activation of egg, candidate molecules involved in fertilization; Contraception leading to prevention of polyspermy: surgical, hormonal and immunocontraception.
Suggested literature:
1. The Physiology of Reproduction, Vol 1 and 2, Ernst Knobil and Jimmy D. Neil, (ed), Raven Press.
2. Male Reproductive Function, Christina Wang, (ed), Kluwer Academic Publishers.
3. The ovary, (ed), Solly Zuckerman Zuckerman, Barbara J. Weir, T. G. Baker. Academic Press.
4. The ovary, Peter C.K. Leung and Eli Y. Adashi, (ed), Elsevier (Academic Press), 2004.
5. Cell and Molecular Biology of Testis, (ed), Claude Desjardins and Larry L. Ewing. Oxford University Press, USA
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6. Reproductive Endocrinology: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Management, Samuel S. C. Yen, Robert B. Jaffe, Robert L. Barbieri, (ed), Saunders publisher. USA
ZOOL 4403: Biology of Reproduction
Practicals
Practicals
1. Histology of testis and ovary of different age groups of rats to understand the sequence of events related to spermatogenesis and folliculogenesis and ageing effect.
2. Gonadectomy and sex steroids replacement therapy to see the effect on accessory sex organs of rats.
3. Isolation of testicular cells and ovarian follicular cells.
4. In vitro experiments with different testicular cells to provide the direct evidence related to humoral and cellular control of testicular functions.
5. Vaginal smear preparation.
6. Induction of superovulation and oocyte retrieval from oviduct of immature rat/mouse.
7. Sperms count and motility: Role of epididymal proteins, mono- and di-valent cations and pH in control of sperm motility.
8. Capacitation and acrosome reaction under experimental conditions.
9. Surgical sterilization of male and female rats.
10. Pseudopregnancy and delayed implantation in adult lactating rats.
11. Isolation of various stages of germ cells following flow cytometry, Analysis of DNA content in germ cell population.
12. SDS-PAGE analysis of placental proteins.
CLICK BELOW FOR SYLLABUS OF
SEMESTER I SEMESTER II SEMESTER III
