PROFESSOR: Dr.Tony Williams (E-mail: tdwillia@sfu.ca)                    Office: B 8273 (Phone: 291-4982)

PREREQUISITES: BISC 305, and one of BISC 306 or 316

This course will review endocrine systems, and hormonal regulation and integration of physiological function in animals, from the molecular to the whole-organism level. Following a general overview, the emphasis will be on vertebrate systems, behavior and reproductive physiology. The following topics will be covered:

• Overview: synthesis, secretion, hormone action, feedback and homeostasis.
• Endocrine glands and hormones.
• Techniques in endocrinology - from castration to transgenics!
• Hormone action - cellular signaling.
• Food intake, energy budgets and body weight.
• Growth and development.
• Hormones, learning and memory.
• Hormones and mood.
• Hormones and reproduction

  - sex determination
  - sexual maturation/puberty
  - breeding cycles
  - circadian rhythms and biological clocks
  - male sexual behavior (e.g. aggression, song)
  - female sexual behavior (e.g. pregnancy, lactation)

• Conservation endocrinology.

Recommended textbook:

Hadley, M.E. 1996. Endocrinology, 4th edition. Prentice Hall (available in the bookshop).

There are a large number of endocrinology texts in the library (some 15 of which will be on Reserve); you will be expected to use these as well as ´primary´ research articles (journals) to supplement your lecture notes. Note: I will give you plenty of help and direction in finding and using this stuff!!

Evaluation:

Midterm 25%

Final exam 50%

Tutorials 10% - these will discuss current topics in endocrinology; you will each present and discuss 1 journal article (provided) during the semester

Project 15% - a 10-page ´essay´ on an endocrinology-related topic of your choice, using information obtained from the literature (books and journals)