Coordinator:     Dr H. Hamudikuwanda

Lecturers:          Dr N.T. Kusina
                         Dr P.N.B. Ndiweni
                         Dr L.R. Ndlovu

Course Summary

Lectures, practicals (laboratory and field), seminars and tutorials will be offered. Lectures will emphasize the important principles and concepts of Animal Physiology; in addition, practical examples of  application of these principles and concepts will be presented.
Practicals will consist of demonstrations, experiments, field visits and  written exercises. Lectures will be divided into six sections; Endocrinology, Physiology of Reproduction,
Physiology of Lactation, Physiology of Growth, Immunology and Environmental Physiology. Practicais, seminars and tutorials will be  conducted for each section wherever possible.
Student evaluations (continuous assessment) will be derived from scores in quizzes, seminars, practicals, and section and  end of  term tests.  The final assessment will be based on the continuous assessment and final examination scores.

Section 1: Introduction to course and General Endocrinology.

     Lecturers: Drs H. Hamudikuwanda and N:T. Kusina

Lecture(#)/     Hours              Date           Topic
Prctical (P#)

1                      1               Tuesday 26          General introduction - coursedetails and overview of
                                         March                 course.

2                      1               Tuesday 26          Introduction to Endocrinology, definitions, types of
                                         March                 hormones and mechanisms of action.

3                      1               Wednesday          Endocrine glands and their hormones. Hormones of
                                        27 March             hypothalamus and pituitary.

P1                    1              Thursday 28         No practical (Class)
                                        March

4                      2              Tuesday 2            Thyrcid, parathyroid and adrenal hormones.
                                        April

6                      1              Wednesday 3        Thymus, pineal and pancreatic hormones.
                                        April

P2                   4              Thursday 4            Lab Practical-identification
                                       April                     of endocrine glands.

7                     2              Tuesday  9            Gastrointestinal hormones gonadal steroid and peptide
                                       April                     hormones.
 

9                    1               Wednesday           Gonadal steroid an4 peptide hormones.
                                       10 April

P3                  4               Thursday 11         a. Measurement of hormone concentrations: la. blood
                                       April                    collection and processing.
                                                                  b. Preparation of physiological solution.
 

10                  2               Tuesday 16          Neurohorrnones.
                                       April
 
 

Section 2:         Physiology of Reproduction

Lecturers: Drs H. Hamudikuwanda and N.T. Kusina

A.  Reproduction in the Female: Dr H Hamudikuwanda

L/P No.     Hours          Date                  Topic

12                 1                 Wednesday            Definitions and measures of fertility.
                                        17 April

13                 2                 Tuesday 23            Factors influencing reproduction in female.
                                          April

15                 1                 Wednesday            Reproductive cycles.
                                        24 April

P4                 4                 Thursday 25          1. Test:Section 1. Practical on measurement of hormone
                                        April                       concentration:
                                                                    2. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) Oestrous cycles.

16                 2                 Tuesday 30          NO CLASS
                                            April

P5                4                  Thursday 2            Complete RIA practical
                                        May

18                 2                 Tuesday 7              Oogenesis, folliculogenesis, egg maturation and ovulation.
                                            May

20                 1                 Wednesday             Hormonal control of reproductive cycles (Endogenous
                                        8 May                    control)

P6                 4                Thursday 9              Seminar and tutorial; Section 1
                                        May

21                 2                Tuesday 14              Hormonal control of reproductive cycles (Artificial
                                        May                       Control): oestrus synchronization.

23                 1                Wednesday              Manipulation of reproduction-role of nutrition, use of
                                        15 May                  endogenous hormones and/orantibodies, and Artificial
                                                                     Insemination (AI).

P7                 4                Thursday 16            Oestrus synchronization & AI
                                            May

B. Reproduction in male: Dr N.T. Kusina

L/P No.       Hours            Date                        Topic
24+             2                   Tuesday 21              Functional Anatomy of male, spermatogenesis
  25                                      May                    maturation of spermatozoa.

26               1                   Wednesday              Factors affecting semen production.
                                        22 May

27               1                   Thursday 23            Semen collection & evaluation
                                         May

P8               3                   Thursday 23           Test: Section 2A & Tutorial
                                         May
________________________________________________________________________

C. Fertilization, Gestation and Parturition: Dr N.T. Kusina

28               1                   Tuesday 28              Transport and survival of gametes.
                                          May

29               1                   Tuesday 28             Fertilization, cleavage and nidation.
                                         May

30               1                   Wednesday 29        Gestation and parturition.
                                         May

P9               4                   Thursday 30          End  of term  test: Sections 1, 2, and 2B.  Practical on
                                         May                     Anatomy of reproductive organs.

Section 3:   Physiology of Lactation.

Lecturer: Dr P.N.B. Ndiweni

L/P No.      Hours           Date                     Topic

31                2                     Tuesday 25             Functional anatomy of the mammary gland.
                                           June

33                1                     Wednesday 26         Development of the mammary gland.
                                           June

P10               4                     Thursday 27           Field visit - AI station.
                                            June
34                 2                     Tuesday 2               Lactogenesis, Biosynthesis of milk and milk fat.
                                            July

36                1                      Wednesday 3           Biosynthesis of milk protein and lactose.
                                            July

P11               4                     Thursday 4              Seminar & Tutorial: Section 2

37                 2                     Tuesday 9               Galactopoiesis, milk ejection, and composition of milk.
                                            July

39                1                      Wednesday 10         Factors affecting milk yield
                                            July                        and composition.

P12              4                     Thursday 11           Lactation Biology.
                                            July

Section 4:   Physiology of Growth.

Lecturer: Dr L.R. Ndlovu

L/P No.      Hours             Date                     Topic

40                2                        Tuesday 16            Definitions, patterns of July growth, measurements
                                                                           and concepts, hypertrophy, hyperplasia and
                                                                           development.

42                1                         Wednesday 17       Body composition and growth.
                                                July

P13              4                         Thursday 18          Test: Section 3. Practical on allometric growth.
                                                July

43                2                         Tuesday 23           Pre-and post-natal growth and development. Growth
                                                July                       of bone, muscle and fat.

45                1                         Wednesday 24       Factors influencing growth.
                                                July

P14              4                         Thursday 25          Seminar: Section 3. Practical on allometric growth
                                                July                       continued.

46                2                          Tuesday 30           Compensatory growth, hormonal control of
                                                 July                      growth at tissue level.

48                1                          Wednesday 31      Manipulation of growth.
                                                 July

P15             4                           Thursday 1          Tutorial: Section 3. Practical on allometric growth
                                                August                  continued.

49               2                           Tuesday 6           Physiology of draught animals.
                   1                         Wednesday 7
                                                August

P16            4                          Thursday 8            Test: Section 4. Practical on allometric growth
                                                August                  continued.
 

Section 5:   Immunology

Lecturer: Dr N.T. Kusina

L/P No.      Hours             Date                     Topic

52                2                       Tuesday 13              Definitions and introduction to immune response.
                                                August                  Antibody-antigen interactions I.
 

54                1                       Wednesday 14         Antibody-antigen interactions II.
                                                August

P17              4                       Thursday 15            Seminar: Section 4
                                                August

55                2                       Tuesday 20             Cellular basis of immune response, cellular memory
                                                August                 and resistance to disease.
 

Section 6:   Environmental Physiology.

Lecturer: Dr H. Hamudikuwanda

L/P No.      Hours             Date                     Topic
 

57                1                     Wednesday 21          Climatic factors influencing distribution of animals.
                                            August

P18             4                     Thursday 22             Seminar: Section 5
                                            August

58                2                     Tuesday 27              Climatic requirements of animals: endothermy and
                                            August                    ectothermy.
 

60                1                     Wednesday 28          Homeothermy, poikilothermy and heterothermy.
                                             August

P19              4                     Thursday 29             End of term test: Sections
                                            August   3-5

61                2                     Tuesday 1               Temperature regulation
                                            October

63                1                    Wednesday 2             Physiclogical responses to
                                            October                     cold environments.

P20               4                     Thursday 3              Practical: Thermoregulation.
                                            October

64                2                         Tuesday 8             Physiological responses to hot environments.
                                                October

66                1                     Wednesday 9             Special adaptations forsurvival in cold climates,
                                                October               dormancy, acclimation and acclimatization.
 

P21            4                        Thursday 10             No practical
                                            October

67              2                        Tuesday 15              Special adaptations for October  survival in hot and
                                                                          arid climates.

P22            4                        Thursday 17            Seminar: Section 6.
                                            October

69             1                         Tuesday 22             Test: Section 6.
                                            October

Grading (mark allocation)

Continuous Assessment     %

Quizzes, Seminars & Practicals  40
Section & End of Term Tests    60
         Total                             100

End of Year (Final) Assessment  %

Continuous Assessment    40
Final Examination         60
Total                            100