Structure and Function of Nerve Cells

-To know the basis of the cellular and subcellular organization of the neurons and glial cells.
-To know the basis of the neuronal polarity and its functional implications
-To understand as the information and material is transfer between the different functional domains of the neurons.
-To Know the processes that originate and support the functional architecture of the nervous system cells.
-To know the actual concepts, and the basis of the techniques use in this field, and the relation of the cell biology with other disciplines of neuroscience.
-To think about what the advances in the knowledge of nervous cells help to improve the knowledge of the function of nervous system in normal and pathological conditions, an in new therapies.

1.- Historical perspective of the cellular biology of the nervous system. Relationship with other disciplines of Neuroscience. General characteristics and cell types of nervous tissue. Fundamentals of cellular and molecular biology techniques applied in neuroscience.
2.- The cell surface. The plasmatic membrane.
3.- The cellular interior. Substance trafficking in neurons. Biosynthesis, storage, release and inactivation of neurotransmitters.
4.- The cytoskeleton. axonal transport.
5.- The nucleus. Flow of genetic information: from DNA to proteins.
6.- Gene expression in the nervous system and its regulation.
7.- The cell cycle in the cells of nervous tissue.
8.- Aging and death of nervous tissue cells.
9.- Nerve fibers and enveloping sheaths. Unmyelinated nerve fibers. Myelinated nerve fibers: the myelin sheath. Chemical synapses. Postsynaptic specializations. Electrical synapses.
10.- Microglia. Types of microglia. Cell biology. Features.
11.- Astroglia: Morphology and classification. Cell biology. Features.
12.- Oligodendrocytes: Morphology and classification. Cell biology. Features.
13.- Schwann cells: Morphology and classification. Cell biology. Features.

BASIC TEXTBOOKS

ALBERTS, B.; BRAY, D.; LEWIS, J.; RAFF, M.; ROBERTS, K. e WATSON, J. D. (Eds). Biología Molecular de la Célula, 5ª Edición, Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2021.
COOPER, G. M., La Célula, Editorial Marbán, Madrid, 2021.

TEXTS OF CELL BIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
DAVIES, R.W., MORRIS, B.J. (Eds). Molecular biology of the neuron. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, New York, 2006.
KANDEL, E.R., SCHWARTZ, J.H., JESSEL, T.M. (Eds). Principles of Neural Science. Fourth edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, 2000.
KETTENMANN, H., RANSOM, B.R. (Eds). Neuroglia. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford, 1995.
LEVITAN, I.B., KACZMAREK, L.K. The Neuron. Cell and Molecular Biology. Third edition. Oxford Universtity Press, New York, 2002.
PURVES, D., AUGUSTINE, G.J., FITPATRICH, D., HALL, W.C., LAMANTIA, A., MCNAMARA, J.O., WILLIAMS, S.M. Neurociencia. Third edition. Editorial Medica Panamericana S.A., Madrid, España, 2007.
SQUIRE, L.R., BLOOM, F.E., McCONNEL, S.K., ROBERTS, J.L., SPITZER, N.C., ZIGMOND, M.J. (Eds). Fundamental Neuroscience. Second edition. Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier Science (USA), 2003.

The student must acquire and improve the following competences and abilities:
- Personal commitment to learn.
- Analysis, synthetic and critical skills.
- Ability to analyse information from different sources.
- Capacity to apply theoretical knowledge into practice.
- Ability to work autonomously as well as in a team.

The theroretical and interative classes will be on stage, the following will be used:
- Master classes
- Seminars, which may consist of seminars given by the professors of the subject in order to deepen and discuss with the students various contents of the subject. Seminars will also be held in which the discussion of articles and resolution of questionnaires will be held. Five seminars will have to be delivered for correction, and evaluation.

- Students must pass an exam that will account for 75% of the final score, and this exam will consist of a multiple choice test, along with short and / or long answer questions, questions with diagrams and figures may also be included. Questions related to the seminars will also be included in this test.
- The score obtained in the 5 seminars delivered will represent 25% of the final score.
The final score of the student in the course will result from the sum:
Exam (75%) + Seminars (25%), this sum will only be made when the student reaches a score equal to or greater than 5 on the exam; otherwise, the sum of the exam grade and the seminar grade will not be made.

Presential time in the class:
- Teorethical sessions: 22 presential hours.
- Seminars: 17 presential hours.
- Personalized tutorial sessions: 1 hour.
- Theoretical exam: 2 hours.
Individual work of the student:
-45 hours of study
-10,5 hours to elaborate works, seminars
-4,5 hours to preparate the exams

- Students without knowledge in cell biology should work with basic books and assist to the personalized tutorial sessions.
-Assistance and active participation in the theoretical sessions and seminars.
-Study periodical review of the bibliographic material and information received during the course
-To clarify any questions and doubts with the teachers.