364 Medical Surge II; (949) 824-6050
E-mail: anatomy@uci.edu
World Wide Web: http://www.com.uci.edu/~anatomy/
Richard T. Robertson, Department Chair
Faculty
Tallie Z. Baram: Developmental neurobiology of seizures; CNS mechanisms of stress response
Xiaoning Bi: Cellular mechanisms of brain aging
Robert H. Blanks: Vestibular physiology and anatomy
Ralph A. Bradshaw: Growth factor action; signal transduction; protein processing
Anne L. Calof: Developmental neurobiology; molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis and programmed cell death
James H. Fallon: Neuronal growth factors and neurotransmitter interactions
Christine M. Gall, Department Vice Chair: Regulation of neuronal gene expression; neurotropic factors
Roland A. Giolli: Experimental neuroanatomy; visual system
Herbert P. Killackey: Developmental neuroanatomy; somatosensory system
Leonard M. Kitzes: Auditory system physiology and development
Frances M. Leslie: Effects of drugs of abuse on central nervous system development
W. Ian Lipkin: Molecular/cellular biology of neurotropic viruses; Borna disease virus; animal models for neuropsychiatric diseases
Diane K. O'Dowd: Regulation of neuronal excitability; development of functional synaptic connections
Charles E. Ribak: Neurocytology; neurotransmitters; neuronal circuitry
Richard T. Robertson: Developmental neurobiology; forebrain development
Martin A. Smith: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation
Ivan Soltesz: Molecular and cellular neurobiology
Oswald Steward: Mechanisms of recovery from CSN injury
John E. Swett (Emeritus): Peripheral nervous system, spinal cord, pain mechanisms
Ji Sze: Molecular neurobiology; gene expression in C. Elegans
John H. Weiss: Mechanisms of neural degeneration
Research programs in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology focus on the neurosciences. Faculty interests range across the broad field of neuroscience research, including cellular and molecular neurobiology, mechanisms of development, ion channel physiology, experimental neuroanatomy, structure and function of sensory and motor systems, and response to injury and regeneration. The Department maintains facilities for electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, and computer-based imaging and informatics. Students performing graduate work in the Department are encouraged to become proficient in multiple areas of neuroscience using interdisciplinary techniques.
The Department offers graduate training in neuroscience under the auspices of the School of Biological Sciences in the Neurobiology track of the combined program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry (MBG&B). The program leads to the Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences. In concert with several other departments, a combined neuroscience core curriculum has been developed which includes course offerings in systems neurobiology, neurophysiology, and cellular, molecular, and developmental neurobiology. These courses may be taken as complete or partial fulfillment of the elective requirements of the MBG&B program. Students wishing to enter the Department's graduate program are encouraged to include some or all of these courses during their first and second years in the combined program.
Students admitted into the MBG&B program who subsequently select a focus in the Neurobiology track and a research advisor in the Department, begin following the departmental requirements for the Ph.D. at the beginning of their third year. Students are required to attend departmental seminars and participate in the Department's Journal Club. The dissertation research topic is chosen by the student in consultation with the research advisor. The majority of the third and fourth years are devoted to research. By the end of the third year, students take their advancement-to-candidacy examination by presenting and defending a proposal for specific dissertation research. Students are expected to graduate within five years of entering the program.
200 Research in Anatomy (2 to 12) F, W, S, Summer. Individual research supervised by a particular faculty member. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
201 Human Gross Anatomy (8) F, W, S. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, nine hours. Study and dissection of the human body, including muscular, skeletal, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. Emphasis on both normal and abnormal structure and function. Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of instructor.
202B Human Neuroscience (4) S. Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour; laboratory, one hour. Study of the human nervous system at the systems level including the physiology and anatomy of sensory, motor, and integrative functions. Prerequisite: Anatomy 202A and consent of Department.
203A-B Human Microscopic Anatomy (3-3) W, S. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, three hours. Lecture and laboratory course on human microscopic anatomy. Emphasis is on functional implications of structure of cells and tissues. Prerequisites: graduate standing, consent of instructor.
206 Tutorial in Anatomy. Tutorial, three hours. Series of tutorials on advanced topics in anatomy. Each may be repeated for credit.
206A Surgical Anatomy (3) F. Exploration of topics in gross anatomy. Dissection/library work required. Prerequisites: Anatomy 201A-B.
206B Neuroanatomy (3) W. Exploration of special topics in neuroanatomy. Primarily library work, but study of prepared slides also included. Prerequisite: Anatomy 202.
206C Microanatomy (3) S. Special topics in microanatomy. Primarily library work, but study of prepared histological slides and photographs included. Prerequisites: Anatomy 203A-B.
208 Neural and Cellular Anatomy. Seminar, three hours. Seminars covering cellular aspects of anatomy.
208A Neurocytology (3) W of even years. Ultrastructure of the nervous system is studied so that an understanding of neuronal function may be gained. Topics include cell body, dendrites, axons, synapses, myelin, glia, blood-brain barrier, meninges, analysis of neuropil, and experimental techniques. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
221A-B Systems Neurobiology (6-2) F, W. Study of the mammalian nervous system at the systems level. Anatomy and physiology of sensory, motor, and integrative functions. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Neurobiology or Neurobiology and Behavior graduate student or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit twice for a total of 16 units. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 221A-B.
222 Neurophysiology (4) F. Lecture, three hours. Biophysical mechanisms of membrane potentials, voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, action potential propagation, synaptic transmission, and intracellular second messenger systems. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Neurobiology or Neurobiology and Behavior graduate student or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit twice. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 222.
222L Neurophysiology Laboratory (2) W. Use of contemporary techniques for studying membrane channels and receptors. Methods include extracellular and intracellular recording, patch clamp, quantal analysis of synaptic transmission, heterologous expression of genes encoding channels and receptors, and fluorescence calcium monitoring. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Neurobiology or Neurobiology and Behavior graduate student or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit twice. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 222L.
223 Synaptic, Cellular, and Molecular Neurobiology (4) W. Lecture, three hours. Chemical basis of molecular and cellular events in neurobiology, including neurotransmitter biosynthesis and release, structure and function of ion channels, second messenger pathways, gene regulation, and synaptic plasticity. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Neurobiology or Neurobiology and Behavior graduate student or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit twice. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 223.
224 Developmental Neurobiology (4) S. Lecture, three hours. Developmental mechanisms involved in formation of the nervous system in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Analysis of cellular mechanisms involved in differentiation, morphogenesis, synaptic connectivity, and electrical activity. Sexual differentiation. Prerequisite: Anatomy and Neurobiology or Neurobiology and Behavior graduate student or consent of instructor. May be taken for credit twice. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 224.
225 Seminar in Excitotoxicity and Neuronal Injury (4) S. A review of recent theories concerning mechanisms of neuronal death in brain diseases. Focuses on recent breakthroughs and controversies in the field, with a special emphasis on the role of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate. Same as Neurobiology and Behavior 256.
