M.Sc. Veterinary Physiology

Master of Science in Veterinary Physiology

M.Sc. Veterinary Physiology

1. List of Academic Staff

Name	Status and Qualification	Research Interest
A. S. Adah	Senior Lecturer & Ag. Head of Department. DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Environmental Physiology, Exercise Physiology
Mistura O. Azeez	Professor, DVM (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Lagos); FCVSN (Abuja)	Cardiovascular Physiology, Renal Physiology, Environmental Physiology, Molecular Physiology, Stress Physiology
B. S. Okediran	Professor, B.Sc. (OAU, Ile-Ife); DVM (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (UNAAB, Abeokuta)	Physiological Chemistry
Helen H. Olaifa	Senior Lecturer, DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Stress Physiology, Environmental Physiology
A. Basiru	Senior Lecturer, DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ibadan); FCVSN (Abuja)	Reproductive Physiology, Endocrinology, Phytomedicine, Developmental Toxicology
*S. F. Ambali	Professor, DVM, M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria)	Neuropharmacology, Ethnopharmacology, Stress Intervention, Environmental Toxicology
*A. Z. Jaji	Reader, DVM, M.V.Sc. (Maiduguri); Ph.D. (UPM, Serdang)	Nanotechnology

*Lecturers from other Departments

B. Introduction

The Master of Science programme in Veterinary Physiology is to offer basic and applied research training and skills to veterinarians. The programme will provide capacity building and career development in the areas of Veterinary Physiology.

C. Philosophy

The philosophy of the programme is the development of highly skilled manpower for teaching, research and professional services for public and private organisations in the field of Veterinary Physiology and related biomedical Sciences.

D. Aim and Objectives

The program is aimed at providing in-depth knowledge and research skills in the area of Veterinary Anatomy. The objectives of the programme are to:

1. produce individuals with advanced academic training and research skills in Veterinary Anatomy; and
2. broaden the horizons of individuals in the field of veterinary anatomy to facilitate its possible applications in other areas of science and veterinary medicine.

E.  Admission Requirements

1. ‗O‘ level credits in five subjects including Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry and English Language with a maximum of two sittings.
2. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or its equivalent from recognised institutions.

F. Duration of the Programme

1. The Full-time programme shall run for a minimum of 18 calendar months and a maximum of 24 calendar months.
2. The part-time programme shall run for a minimum of 24 calendar months and a maximum of 36 calendar months.

G. Detailed Course Description

VTC 813 Biomedical Research Methodology and Communication 2 Credits

History and legal basis of research ethic. Ethical requirements. Ethical review procedure. Ethical issues and requirements: data protection, privacy, informed consent, research on animals and humans, dual use. Identifying research fields. Identifying funding resources. Developing a grant proposal: basic components of a grant proposal, budget and budgeting, research planning and design. Writing research protocol. Submitting a research proposal. Implementing the research project. Describing and analysing research results. Interpreting research results. Report writing. Management control in biomedical research.Challenges and opportunities in collaborative scientific research. Research communication: communicating to scientists, funding agencies, health professionals, policymakers, patients/clients, community, and public media. Writing scientific papers. Publishing scientific papers. Making scientific presentations. 30h (T); C

VPH 815 Biostatistics 2 Credits

Statistics. Study designs. Scales of measurement. Quality of measurement, statistical variable/data. Qualitative and quantitative data sources. Sampling and sample size determination. Data organization: Statistics Charts, Tables, Graphs Frequency Tables, Frequency distribution, Histogram, Stem and leaf plot, box plot. Summary indices: Mean, Median, Modes Variance, Standard Deviation. Probability distributions: Normal, Binomial, Poisson distribution, Descriptive statistics, frequency table, tables for qualitative and quantitative data, diagrams, types of diagrams. Data summarisation: summary indices, measures of central tendency and dispersion. Test of statistical hypothesis. Confidence intervals. Parametric and non-parametric tests. Z-test for proportions. Chi-square test. Fischer‘s exact test and T-test.Analysis of variance.Regression and correlation. Spearman rank and Kendal correlation. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VPH 817 Bioinformatics 2 Credits

Bioinformatics: Introduction, principles and application in Veterinary Medicine. Software and data manipulation.GenBank. Nucleic acid amplification and sequencing. Use of Gene Sequences Analysis software (BioEdit®, MEGA, CLC). Phylogenetic tree construction and analysis. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 801 Comparative Veterinary Haematology 2 Credits

General structure and functions of blood and its formed elements in various animal breeds and species. Physiology of blood clotting. Types of haemoglobin/blood grouping, physiology of blood transfusion. Basic concepts of immunity. Humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Haematology dynamics in some tropical diseases such as trypanosomosis. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 802 Advanced Reproductive Physiology 2 Credits

This course is designed to provide a greater understanding of the biology of sex. The development, structure and functions of the male and female reproductive systems: pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Puberty, oestrous cycle, Gonadal and Placental hormones. Hypothalamic–pituitary influence. Sex determination and differentiation. Cytology of different stages of oestrous cycle. Determination of sperm parameters-count, motility, viability and morphology. 15h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 803 Advanced Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology 3 credits

Physiologic anatomy of the heart. Blood pressure. Heart rate.Systemic and pulmonary circulation. Action potential in cardiac and pacesetter cells. Ion channels (Na+ K+, Ca++). Electrocardiogram. Cardiac output measurement and regulation. Neural and chemical /control of arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Physiology of vascular endothelium. Regional circulation. Responses to haemorrhage and exercise. Hypertension. Physiologic anatomy of the lungs in different animal species. Mechanics of respiration. Ventilation-perfusion relationship. Work of breathing. Surfactant. Pulmonary circulation and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Gas exchange in the lungs. O2 and CO2 gas transport by blood. Chemical and neural control of respiration. Respiratory responses to exercise, altitude, deep sea diving, space travel, artificial respiration and hypoxia. Acid-base balance. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 804 Advanced Neuro, special senses and Neuromuscular Physiology 3 Credits

Nerve types and classification. The Sensory system. Synaptic transmission. Spinal reflexes.Thalamic nuclei, Cerebral cortex. Spinal tracts. Basal ganglia. RAS. Imaging techniques. Evoked potentials. Cerebellum functions. Higher functions of the brain and Electroencephalogram (EEG). ANS. Neurotransmitters. Physiology of sleep. Advanced course on central and autonomic nervous systems, with emphasis on different signals from the viscera. Metabolism of the nervous system, spinal cord, effect of the section of roots of spinal nerves, properties of spinal reflexes. Brain: reticular formation of the brain, the thalamus, and functions of the cerebral hemisphere. Vision and visual processing. Sound conduction and transduction. Central auditory processing. Pathophysiology of the ear. Physiology of hearing and olfaction.Taste and feeling (skin), Structure and types of nerve. Resting membrane potential of nerves. Nerve action potential and its propagation. Knowledge of the component, conduction at the neuromuscular junction and Neuromuscular transmission. Structure and types of muscle. Molecular component of muscle. Physiology of muscular system. Molecular mechanism of muscle contraction-sarcomere, actin, myocinetc. Sarcotubular system of muscle and mechanism of muscle contraction. Oxygen consumption and deficiency special features of muscle and abnormality of skeletal muscle functions. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 805 Advanced Endocrine Physiology 2 Credits

Classification and Mechanisms of hormone actions. Synthesis, release and mechanism of action and effect of deficiency/verproduction of the various hormones from the pituitary, pancreas, adrenal, thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal glands including renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS). Pancreas, Pineal gland and diurnal rhythm. Methods of extraction, bioassay, ELISA, radioimmunoassay and other assay techniques. Immunohistochemical procedures for hormone receptor determination. The prostaglandins. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 806 Advanced Environmental Physiology 1 Credit

Adaptation to season and environmental changes in various animal species. Physiology of animal Stress. General adaptive syndrome, alarm reaction, the stress of disease conditions. Physiology of stress at gestation, molting in avians. High altitude and low levels below sea level. Effect of stress on various body systems. Physiologic adaptation in camel, equines, aquatic animals and reptiles. Dormancy in reptiles, amphibians, molluscs and arthropods. Global warming and physiologic changes in the body system and skin. Disaster management. Responses to thermal changes. Regulatory responses to pollutants. Responses to toxic waste. Acid rain. Ozone layer. Systemic effects of environmental pollution. Industrial waste. Responses to climate change. 15h (T); C

VPB 807 Advanced Renal and Body fluid Physiology 2 Credits

Renal Physiology: nephrons and glomerular functions. Water and electrolyte balance. Antidiuretic hormone and diuretics. Physiology of micturition. Clearance principle and determination of glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. Renal tubular secretion and reabsorption. Countercurrent principle and urine concentration mechanisms. Urea excretion. Tubular secretion of hydrogen ions and renal acid-base regulation. Osmoregulation.Hormones of the kidney. Body fluids and compartments, methods of determination. Major cations and anions in body fluids. Major causes and management of diarhea and dehydration. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 808 Avian Physiology 1 Credit

Physiology of Haematology, Respiratory, Cardiovascular GIT and reproduction in Poultry and other wild-life birds. 15h (T); E

VPB 809 Gastrointestinal Physiology 3 Credits

Structure of the rumen, development of ruminant stomach. Salivary glands and their secretions. Saliva composition and its role in rumen fermentation, regulation and salivary secretion. Significance of oesophageal groove. Eructation, causes, prevention and cure of bloat. Rumen microflora and fauna, rate of microbial symbiosis. Quantitative aspects of rumen gases and VFA production. Absorption of VFA and nitrogenous compounds and lipids. Vitamin and mineral metabolism. Absorption from the omasum and abomasums. Digestion and absorption in the small intestine and hindgut. Composition of GIT and the accessory glands. Gastrointestinal motility – mechanisms of deglutition, chewing and swallowing and defecation. Secretions – salivary, gastric, bile and pancreatic secretions, functions and control. The Liver. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Absorption of water and ions. Gastrointestinal hormones. Methods of study of gastrointestinal functions. Comparative digestive physiology of different animals: the avian, horses, monogastric and others. 30h (T); 45h (P); C

VPB 810 Fish and Aquatic Physiology 1 Credit

Physiology of Haematology, Respiratory, Cardiovascular GIT and reproduction in Fish and other aquatic animals. 15h (T); E

VPB 811 Techniques in Veterinary Physiology 1 Credit

Methods of observing physiologic signs and symptoms in various animals (temperature, respiratory rates, blood pressure heart rate ECG etc). Dissection techniques and identification of all internal organs. Signs of ill-health in various animals at first approach. Principles of electronics and integrated circuits. Calibration of equipment reliability, sensitivity and reproducibility. Literature search. Design of experiments, Methods of data collection. Biohazardous waste management. Handling of laboratory animals. 15h (T); C

VPB 813: Seminar I 1 Credit

This is essentially a pre-data seminar on the research focus of the student‘s projects covering the title, objective and scope of the work, a review of relevant literature, experimental design and methodology. Candidates submit two copies of each write-up before the seminar presentation. 45h (P); C

VPB 814: Seminar II 1 Credit

This is a follow-up seminar/post-data or benchwork findings. It should cover research findings, detailed analysis and interpretation of research results, discussion of findings in view of previous reports and new ideas emanating from the study, conclusion and recommendations for future work. Candidates should submit two copies of each write-up before the seminar presentation. 45h (P); C

VPB 819 Dissertation 6 Credits

Research project on the candidate‘s area of interest presented in a report (Dissertation) examined orally before a panel of examiners. 270h (P); C

• Graduation Requirements

Based on the research interest of each candidate, additional courses may be prescribed by the supervisory team. A candidate must pass 35 Credits made up of the following to be awarded the Master of Science degree in Veterinary Physiology:

Core                                                                                                           29 Credits

Dissertation                                                                                                 6 Credits

Total                                                                                                           35 Credits

I. Summary

Core Courses

VTC 813 (2), VPH 815 (2), VPH 817 (2), VPB 801 (2), VPB 802 (2), VPB 803 (3), VPB 804, VPB 805 (2), VPB 806 (1), VPB 807 (2), VPB 809 (3), VPB 811 (1), VPB 813 (1), VPB 814 (1), VPB 899 (6).

Elective Courses: VPB 808 (1), VPB 810 (1)