Organ physiopathology and histopathology

The goal of the course is to provide the students an overview of the integrated physiological systems involved in homeostasis and in complex behaviours and of the processes which may be altered by xenobiotics. First, the course will provide the concepts of organ physiology necessary to understand the impact of xenobiotics on body homeostasis. This will include principles of physiological regulation of whole organ functions. Then, the course will provide information regarding comparative pathology of laboratory animals (mice, in particular) as models of human diseases. More specifically, the discussed topics will include: how to perform a mouse necropsy, including sampling procedures, classification of lesions, histological and immunohistochemical techniques in experimental pathology, digital image analysis in pathology and experimental animals as models of human diseases. The course will also describe the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to organ dysfunction and disease after acute or chronic exposure to xenobiotics. Both systemic and local perturbations of homeostasis will be described, and related symptoms and alterations of physiological parameters will be studied together with the available diagnostic tools. Finally, the course will provide information regarding comparative histopathology (integrative study of human and animal pathology to gain knowledge by comparing disease mechanisms across species and to use this for the benefit of both human and animal health) of laboratory animals (mice in particular) as models of human diseases. More specifically: classification of lesions, how to perform a necropsy of a mouse and sampling procedures, histological and immunohistochemical techniques in experimental pathology, digital image analysis in pathology and main animals models of human diseases.

At the end of the course, the students are expected to possess a knowledge and understanding in basic histopathology. The acquired skills and competencies will allow the students to recognize the main types of lesions (especially those of toxicological relevance) in both humans and laboratory animals and to know their causes and the way of their development. Moreover, the students are expected to understand and interpret a toxicological pathology report.