? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : BMS-4-PHeic1

The course will be organised and examined as a pair with 'Eicosanoids B'. Eicosanoids are a group of substances that include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes and lipoxins. They are synthesised by every cell in the body, except red blood cells and spermatozoa. Eicosanoids are not stored in tissues (except for prostaglandins in the seminal vesicles) so they are formed and act immediately. Cell damage is a powerful stimulus for eicosanoid synthesis, but there are many substances in the body that will stimulate eicosanoid synthesis by intact cells. Eicosanoids are very potent substances with a large and extremely wide variety of actions. The aim of this course is to assess the importance of eicosanoids in physiological and pathophysiological processes within the body, and then to see whether drugs that influence the synthesis or actions of eicosanoids have clinical roles. Only a selected number of areas can be covered in the time available and these will include:

i. Biosynthesis of eicosanoids
ii. Mechanisms of action of steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on eicosanoid biosynthesis.
iii. Gastric acid secretion
iv. Ulcers generation
v. Ulcer wound healing
vi. Cytoprotection in the gastro-intestinal tract
vii. Adaptive cytoprotection

The course will consist of an introductory lecture and four discussion groups.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer. Pharmacology 3.

? Co-requisites : Nature of Receptors Core Course. Eicosanoids B

Home subject area

Pharmacology (Biomedical Sciences), (School of Biomedical Sciences, Schedule T)

Other subject areas

Pharmacology (Biological Sciences), (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) 45 minutes per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 18/09/2007 09:15 11:00 Room 4.18, David Hume Tower Central

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Monday 09:00 12:00 Med+Vet

Increased undertanding of biological processes.
Detailed learning outcomes will be provided later.

100% Written Examination

Exam times

Diet Diet Month Paper Code Paper Name Length 1ST December 1 Courses A and B 2 hour(s)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Ms Caroline Morris
Tel : (0131 6)51 3255
Email : c.d.morris@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Dr HJ Olverman
Tel : (0131 6)50 3523
Email : H.Olverman@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.dbcls.med.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.mvm.ed.ac.uk/