 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Goals and Objectives: The course will focus on the basic functions of
cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, reproductive, neuro-muscular and
cellular transport systems using anesthetized animal models (dogs/pigs, rats,
rabbits, frogs, etc.) as well as human volunteers.
The student will practice some basic simple surgical procedures in
anesthetized animals and will formulate experimental design and research ideas
aimed at strengthening the foundations of their medical, surgical and research
training. Students in this course will:
Methods of Instruction: The course will consist of laboratory exercises, research orientation and group discussions. Students will work in a group under the guidance of the instructor. Course Director: Dr. Dewan Majid,
MD, PhD Instructors: Dr. D. Majid, MD, PhD; Dr. K.D.Mitchell, PhD; Dr. Ming Li, PhD; Dr. Tino Unlap, PhD; Dr. Fady Botros, PhD; Dr. S. Abdournur, PhD. Grading Policy: A grade of
satisfactory or unsatisfactory will be determined on the basis of attendance and
participation. Letter grades will be
given to the graduate students.
There will be no written exam.
Attendance is mandatory. Excused
absences may be granted only by the Dean, Department Chair or Physiology Research Students will participate
in close association with their preceptor in ongoing research activities.
1. Renal and Vascular Physiology and
Pathophysiology of Hypertension
Several
faculty members, led by our Chairman, Dr. L.G. Navar, are investigating the role
of the kidney and blood vessels in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
Students will be exposed to various experimental approaches used in the
study of renal function, hemodynamics, tubular transport processes, and fluid
and electrolyte regulation.
Student can learn
techniques for the evaluation of renal function, renal tubule reabsorption, and
vascular responses to different antihypertensive drugs, as well as the
expression and regulation of genes involved in hypertension.
Basic
methodological approaches also will be covered in a systematic manner. The
remainder of the student's time will be spent in one or more laboratories of
participating faculty.
2. Molecular Physiology of Signal Transduction in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Regulation Dr. K. Pandey office: room 4022, SOM, phone: 988-1628; e-mail: kpandey@tulane.edu Dr.
Pandey’s laboratory is studying the role of vasoactive natriuretic peptide
hormones and their receptors in the pathophysiology of hypertension and
cardiovascular regulation. The
ongoing studies include: molecular cloning and site-directed mutagenesis, gene
transcription and expression, and cGMP-dependent transmembrane signaling
mechanisms. The student will be exposed to a number of modern cellular and
molecular approaches to delineate the genetic basis of hypertension and
cardiovascular disorders both in vitro using cell culture systems and
in vivo using gene-targeted mouse models
3.
Neurophysiology – Protection of Brain Cells from Ischemic Injury Dr. Kreisman is investigating signaling mechanisms underlying
selective vulnerability to anoxic/ischemic injury in the hippocampus and
mechanisms of protection afforded by hypothermia and pre-ischemic conditioning.
Students will read background literature, learn electrophysiological and
optical recording techniques, and perform experiments pertinent to their
projects. 4.
Cellular
Signaling Physiology
Dr.
M. Li
office: room 4724 SOM, phone: 988-8207; e-mail:
mli@tulane.edu
Dr. Li’s research is focused on the cellular signaling mechanisms of insulin
secretion and cancer cell proliferation.
In particular, Dr. Li is studying intracellular calcium signaling and the
role of calcium ion channels in the progression of diabetes mellitus and breast
and prostate cancer. Students will
employ fluorescence imaging and patch clamp techniques to investigate the role
of calcium ion channels in hormone secretion and in cell proliferation.
Dr. K. Matrougui office: room
4008 SOM; phone 988-2588
Dr. Matrougui’s lab is investigating signaling pathways that contribute to
vascular dysfunction and structural wall remodeling of resistance arteries,
particularly in diabetes and hypertension.
co-presentation of the two
risk factors (hypertension and diabetes) exacerbates vascular disease but
mechanisms are poorly understood.
Specifically they are studying
the role of (1) advanced glycation end products, (2) epidermal growth factor
receptor, (3) alphav-beta3-integrin, (4) transforming growth factor beta1 and
(5) oxidative stress in coronary arterioles and mesenteric resistance arteries
in animal models of these two diseases. Experiments
utilize integrative approaches including: pharmacology, molecular biology in
vitro and in vivo adenovirus-siRNA mediated delivery, real time RT-PCR, western
blot analysis, immunostaining, mitochondrial oxidative stress, primary cultures
of vascular smooth muscle, and assessment of changes in morphology and stiffness
of resistance arteries from hypertensive or diabetic mice.
Please
see individual faculty members directly or contact Dr. Norman Kreisman, Overall
Coordinator Other elective opportunities are described below and may include departmental research projects that are done under faculty supervision.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Search | Center for Continuing Education | Giving | Health Sciences Center | Tulane University
School
of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 988-5462 Fax: (504) 988-2945