The Neuromuscular Junction in Health and Disease (U01061)

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

Principal Tutor: Dr Richard R Ribchester
(assisted by members of the Neuromuscular Synaptic Plasticity Research Group)
The neuromuscular junction was described by Sir Bernard Katz as "an experimentally favourable object whose study could throw considerable light on synaptic mechanisms elsewhere". This proved to be the case in Katz's Nobel Prize-winning studies, which revealed fundamental mechanisms of chemical synaptic transmission: specifically, the probabalistic release of chemical neurotransmitters by Ca-dependent exocytosis; the diffusion of transmitter molecules across the synaptic cleft; and the binding of these molecules to ligand-gates ion channels in the postsynaptic membrane. This module will review not only the microanatomy and physiology of neuromuscular synapses in species as diverse as flies, frogs, mice and men: but also their development, maintenance, plasticity, degeneration, regeneration. As in the case of synaptic physiology, further fundamental mechanistic principles are being revealed, particularly in the area of plasticity and degeneration, by research on these most accessible of synapses. We will also consider the relevance of findings made from basic research on neuromuscular junctions, to the understanding and treatment of diseases such as myasthenia gravis and motor neurone disease. The module will comprise lectures, seminars, tutorials, problem-solving and quantitative data analysis using morphometric and electrophysiological software, and practical/clinical demonstrations.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

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

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Directors of Studies must contact the Programme Secretary or Programme Organiser for Honours Neuroscience before registering a student for this course. Priority is given to Honours Neuroscience students.