King Saud University
College Of Science
Department of Biochemistry
Course Outline (Description)
Course code
Title
Credit Hours
Year/Term
BCH
560 hormones
3 (3+0)
1432-1433H/1st semester
* Objectives (tasks which students are expected to be able perform after the course):
Summary of the main learning outcomes for students enrolled in the course.




To familiarize students with knowledge about the integrative nature of hormone's
physiological actions.
To help the students to understand the physiological and biochemical aspects of growth,
metabolism, reproduction and exposure to stressors.
To teach the student's detailed information about hormone disturbance –related
diseases.
To develop in the students an awareness of the role of life styles in the prevention of
hormone-related diseases.
* References:
-
Greenspan ‘s Basic and Clinical Endocrinology( 7th edition), David G. Gardner
Francis S. Greenspan , Mc Graw –Hill , 2004
Williams Textbook of Endocrinology (11th ed.), edited by Kronenberg HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky KS, and Larsen PR. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier, 2008
* Assessment Scheme:
No.
1
2
3
Methods of Assessment
Written examination
- Oral Presentation
- Home work
Yes/No
yes
yes
yes
4
- Others
No
Page 1
Marks (%)
25x3 ((75%)
10%
5x3(15%)
(The topics
given for
Home work
will be
included in
written exam)
0
MSc course outline
Course Outline (Schedule)
Time & Venue:
Teachers
Office
E-mail
Dr. Howaida Nounou
Dr. Saba Abdi
Dr. Samina Haq
682/8
702/8
702/ 8
hnounou@ksu.edu.sa
sabdi@ksu.edu.sa
shaq@ksu.edu.sa
Week
Staff
1
Dr.
Howaida
Nounou
Topics
Introduction to endocrinology:
The endocrine system
- hormones: endocrine, paracrine, &
autocrine actions
- endocrine organs & hormone production
- chemical composition of hormones
- relationships between hormones & other
signaling molecules
Hormone receptors, Hormone effects on
receptor activity
Classes of hormone action
Classification of hormone action by receptor
type
Classification of hormone action by ligand type.
Reference
Greenspan ‘s Basic
and Clinical
Endocrinology( 7th
edition), David G.
Gardner Francis S.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
2
Mechanisms of Hormone Action:
hormone receptors:
A- Cell Surface Receptors
- g protein transducers
- g protein disorders
- g protein-coupled receptors & human
disease
growth factor receptors
cytokine receptors
guanylyl cyclase-linked receptors
B- Nuclear receptors;
1Steroid receptor family
2Thyroid receptor family
3Nongenomic effects of the steroid
hormones
4Steroid & thyroid hormone receptor
resistance syndromes
5Nuclear action of peptide hormones
Hypothalamus & pituitary gland:
Anatomy & embryology
- Greenspan ‘s Basic
and Clinical
Endocrinology( 7th
edition), David G.
Gardner Francis S.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
Dr.
Howaida
Nounou
3
Dr.
Page 2
-
Greenspan ‘s Basic and
Clinical Endocrinology(
MSc course outline
Howaida
Nounou
4
Dr.
Howaida
Nounou
Blood supply
Pituitary development & histology:
Hypothalamic hormones:
- anterior pituitary hormones;
- ACTH & related peptides; biosynthesis,
function, measurement, secretion,
- growth hormone, prolactin, thyrotropin,
gonadotropins; biosynthesis, function,
secretion , measurement
- effects of neuropharmacologic agents
- Endocrinologic evaluation of the
Hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
- problems in evaluation of the
Hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
- pituitary & hypothalamic disorders
Posterior pituitary:
1. Antidiuretic hormone(ADH; vasopressin);
renal actions, cardiovascular & other actions
2. Oxytocin; actions affecting the female
reproductive system, control of water balance
- Diabetes insipidus:
a. central diabetes insipidus
b. nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Diagnosis: vasopressin test,
ADH radioimmunoassays
Treatment
- syndrome of inappropriate secretion
of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
7th edition), David G.
Gardner Francis S.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
Greenspan ‘s Basic
and Clinical
Endocrinology( 7th
edition), David G.
Gardner
Francis S.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
-
Evaluation (25 marks)
Greenspan ‘s Basic
and Clinical
Endocrinology( 7th
edition), David G.
Gardner
Francis S.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
-
5
Dr. Saba
Abdi
6
Dr. Saba
Abdi
Page 3
•

The endocrine pancreas
Glucose turnover, Anabolic and catabolic
phases of glucose metabolism, Actions of all
pancreatic hormones. Structure, synthesis
and metabolism of insulin and glucagon
,Anatomical features of pancreatic islets in
relation to hormone secretion and its control.
Diabetes mellitus :Etiology, Causes
,Prevention of type 1 &2 DM.Control of
insulin and glucagon secretion .Genetic
disorders of β-cell function ,Counterregulatory hormones and DM
,Complications of DM
•
The thyroid gland
Iodine intake , Anatomical features of the
thyroid gland. Iodine trapping and thyroid
function.
Thyroid hormones : Synthesis , actions , control
of synthesis and secretion , transport and
-
Greenspan ‘s Basic
and Clinical
Endocrinology( 7th
edition), David G.
Gardner
Francis S.
MSc course outline
7
Dr. Saba
Abdi
8
Dr. Saba
Abdi
metabolism. Biochemical measurements of
thyroid hormone status.
Hyperthyroidism — Graves' disease.
Hashimoto's disease and myxedema , Thyroid
hormone resistance .Non-thyroid illness (‘sick
euthyroid’ syndrome).Thyroid growth. Nodular
thyroid disease. Thyroid cancer
• The parathyroid glands and vitamin D
•
Calcium and phosphate in serum and its
measurement. Intracellular calcium
concentration , Ca 2+ and Pi balance. Hormonal
control of serum Ca 2+ and Pi concentrations
.Sources, metabolism and transport of vitamin
D. Classical actions of vitamin D on intestine
and bone.
•
Parathyroid glands . PTH synthesis
,control of secretion , actions. Hypercalcemia
and primary hyperparathyroidism.
Hyperparathyroidism and multiple endocrine
neoplasia (MEN). Hypocalcemia,
Hypercalcemia and vitamin D excess.
Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrp),
Mutations of the Ca 2+ and Pi receptors .
Pseudohypoparathyroidism .Vitamin D
deficiency and rickets , Osteoporosis. Paget's
disease (osteitis deformans). Calcitonin and
calcitonin gene-related peptide.
Neurotrophin-structure , function, types and
mechanism of action.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
Greenspan ‘s Basic
and Clinical
Endocrinology( 7th
edition), David G.
Gardner
Francis S.
Greenspan , Mc Graw –
Hill , 2004
-
-
• Prostaglandins
Discovery, Structure and classification,
biosynthesis, regulation of PGH2 synthase
activity. Prostaglandin degradation. Biological
action of prostaglandins and related compounds.
Thromboxins.
Williams Textbook
of Endocrinology
(11th ed.), edited
by Kronenberg
HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky KS, and
Larsen PR.
Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders Elsevier,
2008
-Biochemistry- D.Voit and
J.Voit (4nd edition)
Evaluation (25 marks)
9
Page 4
Dr.
Samina
Haq
Gastrointestinal Hormone:
Hormonal regulators of the brain-gut adipode
axix.
Cholocystokinin.
PYY( pancreatic peptide YY))
Motilin and Ghrelin hormone and its action
Preproglucagon-derived peptides and its action
Williams Textbook
of Endocrinology
(11th ed.), edited
by Kronenberg
HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky KS, and
Larsen PR.
Philadelphia, PA:
MSc course outline
10
Dr.
Samina
Haq
11
Dr.
Samina
Haq
12
Dr.
Samina
Haq
Amylin and its effect on gastric motility.
Gastrointestinal hormones and gut
endocrine tumors
Adrenal (Cortex) Hormones:
Adrenal gland brief history and introduction
Adrenal steroids and steroidogenesis
Corticosteroid hormones action
Classification and pathophysiology of cushing’s
syndrome
Glucocorticoid deficiency
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Saunders Elsevier,
2008
-
Williams Textbook
of Endocrinology
(11th ed.), edited
by Kronenberg
HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky KS, and
Larsen PR.
Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders Elsevier,
2008
Adrenal Medulla hormones:
Adrenal medulla and Catecholamines
Pheochromcytoma and Paraganglioma
Renin-Angiotensin Alsdosterone system
Primary Aldosteronism
Forms of Mineral corticoid Excess or effect.
-
Williams Textbook
of Endocrinology
(11th ed.), edited
by Kronenberg
HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky KS, and
Larsen PR.
Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders Elsevier,
2008
Hormones of male and female reproductive:
Hormones of male and female reproductive.
-
Williams Textbook
of Endocrinology
(11th ed.), edited
by Kronenberg
HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky KS, and
Larsen PR.
Philadelphia, PA:
Saunders Elsevier,
2008
Ovary- structure and function
Ovarian steroidogenesis
Peptide hormones produced by ovary
Endometrium: effect of ovarian steroids on
endometrium.
Disorders of the female reproductive system
Role of Androgens in male fertility and its
deficiency.
Evaluation (25 marks)
Page 5
MSc course outline