Cell Biology and Histology

Frank Wilson, Course Director

www2.umdnj.edu/cbiolweb

The Cell Biology and Histology course is taught in the first year, fall semester. In 2001 the enrollment was 156 Medical Students, 36 Physician Assistant Students and 4 Graduate Students. The course presents the structure and function of the cells, tissues and organs of the body as revealed by light and electron microscopy. Key concepts in cellular biology form the foundation for the students' understanding of how cells can organize into tissues and tissues into organs. In addition to gaining an appreciation of normal histological structure, the students are exposed to relevant histopathologies, which are used to illustrate changes in normal architecture produced by diseases. In these cases, the cellular nature of the disease is emphasized. The faculty strongly believe that the knowledge gained through a mastery of this subject will pay dividends for students in future courses, neuroscience, physiology, microbiology and pathology and throughout their careers. The fact that all disease occurs at the cellular level makes understanding of this concept paramount. The basic tissues of the body are just that: basic to the knowledge that all physicians require. Lastly, an understanding of the normal structure and function of organs is necessary before determining how they are changed by pathologies.

The lectures in the course cover certain aspects of cell biology as they relate to cell, tissue and organ structure and function. The students have a wide variety of tools to help them learn the material covered in the laboratory. These include lecture handouts, 35mm slide and glass microscope slide collections, microfiche and computer-assisted instruction. Histology ImageReview is a CD-ROM based text/atlas that contains over 1400 light and electron micrographic images arranged in 20 chapters. Students rely on this program to supplement their laboratory exercises. Medical students are required to participate in the course in an active manner by presenting Student Laboratory Orientation Talks (SLOTS). The laboratory instructors act as facilitators in this process. Part of the students' laboratory grade is determined by their participation in SLOTS. Students in the Physician Assistant Program and graduate students have separate laboratory sessions with an instructor. By utilizing these sessions, 35mm slide collections and computer-assisted learning programs, these students are able to have a complete laboratory experience.

Each year several students come into the course with previous experience in histology and we offer these students the opportunity to participate in the Histology Tutor Program. In order to qualify for the program students must perform at the Honors level on a practical examination given early in the semester. Those selected as tutors are required to assist in the laboratories under the supervision of the faculty.

There are three course examinations, which have both practical and written components. The practical examination covers images presented in 35mm slides and computer-assisted instructional programs. The written portion consists of multiple choice questions.

At the conclusion of the course during the final examination, the students are required to fill out the course evaluation form. The course has consistently received positive evaluations by the students. In addition the RWJMS Curriculum Committee has just concluded a thorough review of the course with an extremely favorable outcome. In the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire Microanatomy/Histology Section, the RWJMS Cell Biology and Histology percentile is higher than the national average for ranking this course as "Excellent/Good".

The Cell Biology and Histology Teaching Faculty

Frank Wilson, Course Director:
Research interests: Role of matrix proteins, cytoskeletal proteins and mast cells in lung tissue remodeling in pulmonary hypertension

Ann Bretschneider: Laboratory Instructor

Cheryl F. Dreyfus: Research Interest: Regulation of brain development by environmental signals. In particular the role of the trophic factors and psychoactive agents are being examined.

Jean Gibney: Laboratory Instructor

Sarah Hitchcock-DeGregori: Research Interests: Regulation of muscle contraction and cellular movement. Molecular models of muscle disease. Structure-function relationships in cytoskeletal proteins, protein design and folding. Structure determination of model peptides

W. Geoffrey McAuliffe: Research interests: Response of glial cells to injury in the CNS

John Pintar: Research interests: Targeted disruption of growth factor genes. Developmental biology of the pituitary gland, pituitary-derived peptide hormones, and peptide hormone receptors

James Zheng: Research interests: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of axonal growth, growth cone guidance, and growth cone-target interaction during development
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