BMS 405 -- Nerve and Muscle: Toxins, Trauma and Disease

Course Description: Structure, composition, function of nerves and muscles; etiology of genetic and autoimmune neuromuscular diseases; alteration by toxins and nerve gas.

Course Objectives: Students will be able to:

Describe the cellular and molecular basis for normal and abnormal neuromuscular function. Projected topics include several forms of muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica, and spinal cord lesions and trauma.
Describe the cellular and molecular components involved in neuromuscular blockade caused by venomous snakes and spiders, nerve gases, and pharmacological agents.
Describe the mechanisms involved in denervation and reinnervation of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
Discuss current topics in the area of neuromuscular disease.

Prerequisites: BMS 325 or 345

Format: 3 credits - 3 hours of lecture per week; written honors project

Semesters Offered: Spring

Coordinator: J. Rash

Text: RECOMMENDED but not required: Principles of Neural Science, 4th ed., Kandel, Schwartz and Jessell

Course Outline:

	Week 1:	Organization of the spinal cord; Structure and function of neurons and glial cells
	Week 2:	Chemical vs. electrical synaptic transmission; Establishing the membrane potential; Molecular basis for neuronal "action potentials"; Nodes of Ranvier
	Week 3:	Gap junctions and connexin diseases (X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease); Pelizaeus-Merzbacher-like diseases; roles of K+ leak channels and aquaporins in ion and water homeostasis; neuromyelitis optica and other demyelinating diseases
	Week 4:	Alpha motor neurons and the "motor unit"; Synaptic transmission: at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ); Presynaptic components of the NMJ; Postsynaptic mechanisms of the NMJ; Neuromuscular blocking agents: nerve gases
	Week 5:	Neuromuscular blocking agents, curarimimetics; Anticholinesterase agents, insecticides, autoimmune diseases of the NMJ (myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome)
	Week 6:	Exam 1; Nerve gases; spindle fibers, genetic abnormalities leading to ataxias
	Week 7:	Diabetic neuropathy
	Week 8:	Neurodegenerative diseases
	Week 9:	Honors Student Class Presentations?
	Week 10:	??? Muscular dystrophy; Myotonia
	Week 11:	Exam 2; Spinal cord development and function
	Week 12:	Anatomy & Physiology of reflex arcs; Peripheral nerve trauma and regeneration
	Week 13:	Demyelinating neuropathies; Spinal cord trauma
	Week 14:	AIDS myelopathy; Muscular Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
	Week 15:	Team Learning; Class Presentations

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