INTRODUCTION
The department of Physiological Sciences was created as one of the 22 departments of the former faculty of Health Sciences, now one of the part components of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, one of the 3 faculties of College of Health Sciences created in 1991.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
The department undertakes academic programmes including teaching and research in the field of physiology and pharmacology. The department teaches physiology to undergraduate students in medicine, dentistry, nursing and medical rehabilitation during their preclinical stage of the various programmes. It also teaches basic pharmacology and toxicology along with physiology to the 300level students of medicine and dentistry in preparation for clinical years of the MBChB and BChD programmes respectively.
The department also undertakes multidisciplinary integrative research studies in neurosciences in collaboration with the department of pharmacology of this university in behavioural pharmacology, neuropharmacology, and psychopharmacology.
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES/RESEARCH
The department currently runs postgraduate degree programmes in Physiology (M.Sc, M.Phil, and PhD). It graduated 1 M.Sc and 2 Ph.D candidates in the year 2005. Currently 1 Ph.D candidate is near completion with many other applications undergoing processing at the postgraduate college.
ONGOING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
1) Neuropharmacological studies of Anaphe venata larva induced behavioural syndrome in rat .
2) Isolation of the active principles in Spondias mombin L, its anxiolytic, antipsychotic properties.
3) The interaction between NMDA receptors and dopaminergic system in an animal model of Psychosis: The ability of the animal to recognize novel environment before and after NMDA receptor blockade using Ketamine is also being studied. Since Ketamine is now being abused simultaneously with alcohol in humans, investigation of the effect of chronic, intermittent use of Ketamine on alcohol-induced hypnosis and the effect of chronic Ketamine intermittent administration on behavioural effects of acute Ketamine is in progress.
4) Investigation of the neurobiological activity of a neuropeptide (PYY3-36): this study is investigating the effects of these neuropeptides on activity, memory and learning, anxiety, and its possible involvement in the pathophysiology of some behavioural disorders. The neuroreceptors involved in the behavioural changes induced by these peptides is being studied.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
The department recently recruited a new academic staff and staff recruitment is still an ongoing process in view of our needs. Currently some academic staff are undergoing further training programmes locally sponsored by the university to enhance the growth of the department. Steps are being taken to recruit more technical and administrative staff to replace those who have retired from the service of the university.
RESEARCH UNIT IN VIEW.
The neuroscience research unit
A neuroscience research unit is currently being proposed to actualize our dream of interdisciplinary approach to the study of the brain.
FACILITIES.
A) Office space
There is a general departmental office for the head of department and the administrative staff. Every academic staff and senior technical staff has a personal office but there is a need to expand to accommodate additional new academic staff.
Presently there is no departmental library which is very crucial for learning and research. Our seminar room is presently not functional due to absence of facilities essential for its use like the air conditioner, window blinds, seats etc.
B) Laboratories
i) Undergraduate Laboratory:-the multi-disciplinary laboratory (MDL) is used for students’ practical session. However there is a need to expand the laboratories to accommodate the increasing population of students.
ii) Postgraduate Laboratory: - there is a need to equip our postgraduate laboratory to be able to conduct basic research in the department.
iii) Animal house development: - attempt has been made by previous heads of the department to have a functional animal house to cater for our research efforts but success is yet to be recorded in this regard.
EQUIPMENTS:
Many of our equipments are obsolete and manageable ones are in a state of disrepair. There is a need to upgrade many of these facilities to be able to cope with the trends of research both locally and internationally. The following are currently needed for neuroscience research unit being proposed.
1. Facility for novel environment studies:
i) Elevated plus maze for study of anxiety
ii) Shuttle box for rats and mice
iii) Y-maze
iv) REM-sleep deprivation platform
v) Activity meter cage (Ugo Basille)
2. Ugo Basille for pain threshold, tail flick pain measurements.
3. Techniques to measure inflammation
4. Electroshock for convulsion
5. Stereotaxic equipments for mice, rats, cats, and monkey
PROGRAMMES IN VIEW:
We are currently developing a curriculum for a proposed Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree programmes in Physiology and Pharmacology respectively to prepare future leaders in the field of medical sciences.
However further expansion of the existing facilities is crucial to the successful take-off of these lofty programmes.
