Toxicology I
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Aim of the course is to provide the fundamental knowledge to understand the basic principles of toxicology through:
- the characterization of toxicity manifestations and molecular mechanisms
- the scientific basis of experimental toxicology
- the analysis of the adverse effects of xenobiotics and drugs on organ
- the analysis of the criteria for evaluating and extrapolating toxicity data to humans
- the characterization of toxicity manifestations and molecular mechanisms
- the scientific basis of experimental toxicology
- the analysis of the adverse effects of xenobiotics and drugs on organ
- the analysis of the criteria for evaluating and extrapolating toxicity data to humans
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the ability to critically analyze and discuss, with a coherent language, the general pathways triggered by xenobiotics and drugs to alter organ physiology, the mechanisms involved and the general rules that define their toxicity.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TOXICOLOGY
· Principles of Toxicology: the concept of risk and dose, from molecular mechanism to the rules passing by risk assessment, type of toxicants, dose-response curves and relevance in toxicity, molecule-target relationship and related effects, reversible and irreversible, acute, subacute, subchronic and chronic toxicity, the different factors that influence toxicity
· Mechanisms of Toxicity: oxidative stress, mitochondrial toxicity, calcium homeostasis, molecular mechanism of protection and repair
· Toxicokinetics: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of toxic substances
·
NON-ORGAN-DIRECTED TOXICITY
· Developmental toxicology: teratogenesis, developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
· Genetic toxicology
· Carcinogenesis
TARGET ORGAN TOXICITY
· Toxic response of the reproductive system
·Toxic responses of the respiratory system
· Toxic responses of the immune system
· Toxic responses of the Nervous System
· Toxic responses of the kidney
· Toxic responses of the liver
· Toxic responses of the skin
RISK ASSESSMENT
·OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals
· In vitro methods and alternative approaches applied in toxicology
· Risk assessment
· Principles of Toxicology: the concept of risk and dose, from molecular mechanism to the rules passing by risk assessment, type of toxicants, dose-response curves and relevance in toxicity, molecule-target relationship and related effects, reversible and irreversible, acute, subacute, subchronic and chronic toxicity, the different factors that influence toxicity
· Mechanisms of Toxicity: oxidative stress, mitochondrial toxicity, calcium homeostasis, molecular mechanism of protection and repair
· Toxicokinetics: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of toxic substances
·
NON-ORGAN-DIRECTED TOXICITY
· Developmental toxicology: teratogenesis, developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
· Genetic toxicology
· Carcinogenesis
TARGET ORGAN TOXICITY
· Toxic response of the reproductive system
·Toxic responses of the respiratory system
· Toxic responses of the immune system
· Toxic responses of the Nervous System
· Toxic responses of the kidney
· Toxic responses of the liver
· Toxic responses of the skin
RISK ASSESSMENT
·OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals
· In vitro methods and alternative approaches applied in toxicology
· Risk assessment
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of basic human anatomy and principles of biology
Teaching methods
The course is conducted through lectures and class discussion of the syllabus.
Teaching Resources
Tossicologia, Galli-Corsini-Marinovich, editore PICCIN, 2 Edizione (2008)
· Casarett e Doull's Tossicologia, i fondamenti dell'azione delle sostanze tossiche, Curtis D Klaassen, Ed. EMSI, 7 edizione
· Casarett e Doull's Toxicology. The basic science of poisons. Curtis D Klaassen, Ed. McGraw Hill, 7th Edition
Slides and supplementary material will be loaded on the web platform Ariel Unimi (https://ariel.unimi.it)
· Casarett e Doull's Tossicologia, i fondamenti dell'azione delle sostanze tossiche, Curtis D Klaassen, Ed. EMSI, 7 edizione
· Casarett e Doull's Toxicology. The basic science of poisons. Curtis D Klaassen, Ed. McGraw Hill, 7th Edition
Slides and supplementary material will be loaded on the web platform Ariel Unimi (https://ariel.unimi.it)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The aim of the course is to provide a basic knowledge of the principles of toxicology through the characterisation of the main mechanisms of toxicity at both cellular and organ levels. Acquisition of these competencies will be assessed independently by two different professors through an oral examination on any topic of the programme. The final mark, out of thirty, will be the average of the marks awarded by each professor.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
Dip. di Scienze Farmacologiche, Via Balzaretti 9