COMPARATIVE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY

LECTURES:
Body fluids. Transport of solutes and water across an epithelium.
Comparative physiology of digestion and absorption: digestive system.
The principles of chemical communication, hormones and pheromones.
The endocrine regulation of growth, intermediate and calcium metabolism.
Regulation of body temperature and adaptation to environmental temperature.
Comparative physiology of oxygen and carbon dioxide transportation: the blood and circulatory physiology.
Comparative physiology of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange: respiratory physiology.
Comparative physiology of the regulation of the water/electrolyte balance: excretory physiology.
The regulation of the acid-base balance.
Biological clocks.
Adaptation Physiological responses to stressors.
Reproductive strategies in female and male vertebrates: puberty, gamete development, reproductive cycles, seasonality.

Each topic will consider the differences between the vertebrate classes (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians), and a special focus will be given to relevant species: zebrafish, birds (fowl), mouse, rat and dog.

LAB SESSIONS:
Virtual lab 1: the Langendorff’s heart
Virtual lab 2: the rat aorta and stomach
Blood smear evaluation in different species of vertebrates
The endocrinologic evaluation of stress

STUDENT SEMINARS:
- Develop a reproductive profile of a selected animal species.
- Good welfare and good science: discuss if and how failure to attend to biological needs affect the experimental outcome.