Macquarie University

Advanced Human Physiology - BIOL376

This unit follows on from BIO257 and BIOL247. We will investigate the interaction of the renal and respiratory systems in the control of body pH. The next topic is the control of blood pressure leading to a discussion of hypertension and exercise. We continue with endocrinology discussing signal transduction and messenger pathways, and the role of hormones in the regulation of plasma potassium, calcium and glucose concentrations. A discussion of neuroendocrine systems and function of thyroid, sex, growth, mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid hormones leads into a discussion of stress and the stress hormones. As obesity is currently a major threat to human health we will consider energy balance and the neurological basis for homeostatic and hedonic control of appetite before investigating other factors involved in weight control including genetics, foetal programming, protein leverage and the gut microbiota. The final two lectures will be on the neurobiology of the reward systems involved in hedonic eating and drug addiction. Practical classes make use of computer-assisted learning, as well as laboratory experiments. We will measure physiological parameters such as blood pressure during exercise, acid and base in the urine and stress hormones in the saliva. In these classes students will act both as investigators and experimental subjects.