Homeostatic Control

Course Director:
Grae Davis, email: gdavis@biochem.ucsf.edu

First Class: Friday, May 14, 2010
See below for class schedule and locations.

Course Description:
Throughout the nervous system there is evidence that homeostatic signaling systems can modulate synaptic transmission and cellular excitability in order to stabilize neural function. Increasingly, it is hypothesized that defective homeostatic signaling could contribute to the cause or progression of diverse neurological disease.  Significant experimentation in this area of neuroscience can be traced back to the mid-1990s.  At that time, theoretical work and experiments in model systems provided a phenomenological foundation for homeostatic control in the nervous system.  The field has expanded rapidly over a period of 15 years.  This provides an opportunity to examine the rapid evolution of this research area from its inception to its current status through a reading of the primary literature.  Topics will include the homeostatic control of ion channel abundance, synaptic transmission and neural circuit function.  Parallels will be made, when possible, to homeostatic signaling systems in other areas of biology.  

Class Roster:

For your study list please use:
NS 219, 3 units, Director: Grae Davis, Grade option: S/U

Class Schedule: (This is a tentative schedule and subject to change)
MB-Mission Bay