OVERVIEW

The module of Toxicology is part of the integrated course of Pharmacology and Toxicology, which is taught during the first year of the Master's Degree in Biotechnology, and concerrns the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. The module includes laboratory exercises.

Lectures will be held in English.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Toxicology module aims at providing students with the basic knowledge regarding the interactions between xenobiotics and living organisms and the mechanisms through which such interactions can lead to harmful effects.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

As training objectives, this module aims to introduce students to Toxicology, illustrating its general and specialized areas and providing the foundations of the subject through the acquisition of basic knowledge of:

• Toxicokinetics, to understand the mechanisms through which xenobiotics enter the body, are distributed, metabolized and eliminated and the factors that influence these processes and the toxic effect:
• Toxicodynamics, to understand the main mechanisms of cellular and molecular toxicity, such as oxidative stress, alteration of intracellular calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial toxicity, genotoxicity and chemical carcinogenesis, and developmental toxicity.
• Organ toxicity, to understand toxic phenomena at the level of individual organs. Given the number of credits assigned to the module, as an example of organ toxicity, neurotoxicity will be illustrated with particular attention to glutamatergic excitotoxicity and its role in various neurodegenerative diseases.
• ​Toxicity tests, to understand how to evaluate the toxicological risk of a substance, determining its ability to cause adverse effects in the body.

Using different teaching methods, the teacher aims also to develop functional literacy skills and basic personal and social skills.

In laboratory exercises (1 CFU), students will learn some in vitro and in vivo methods related to the study of the effects of xenobiotics.

As learning outcomes, the student must demonstrate knowledge of the role of Toxicology in modern society and of the different factors and mechanisms that influence the manifestation of toxicity following exposure to xenobiotics. The student must know and be able to explain the principles of toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics using appropriate technical-scientific language, also demonstrating the ability to interconnect the different topics. The student must be able to describe the main in vitro and in vivo methods to determine the toxicity of a xenobiotic in order to evaluate its toxicological risk.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching methods include frontal lessons that engage students with questions and scientific reasoning and with the use of the Wooclap platform for a final synthesis and critical self-evaluation of learning outcomes across the various topics. All the topics of the course will be illustrated in detail during the lessons. The teacher may also use the peer education and peer evaluation methods to enable students to learn actively and develop the ability to communicate effectively with appropriate scientific terminology. The teaching materials used during the lessons will be available to students on the AulaWeb website.

The classes will be in person. In emergency situations (e.g., hydrogeological emergency), classes will take place in distance learning mode, using the Microsoft Teams online platform. Students will be promptly informed by the teacher.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other educational needs regularly presented to the University, are invited to contact the teacher and the School/Department disability contact person at the beginning of the course to agree on any teaching methods that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to Toxicology. Definition of xenobiotic, toxic agent and toxin. General and specialist areas of toxicology. Local or systemic toxicity, immediate and delayed toxicity, reversible or irreversible toxicity.

Toxicokinetics. Factors influencing toxicity: absorbed dose, route of exposure, duration and frequency of exposure, toxication and detoxication processes, elimination rate.

Toxicodynamics. Reaction with the biological target: target attributes, types of reaction with the target, effects on the target. Main cellular toxicity outcomes: structural damage or dysfunction. Main cellular toxicity mechanisms: oxidative stress, mitochondrial toxicity, alteration of calcium homeostasis. Methods for the evaluation of intracellular calcium load, of mitochondrial toxicity, of free radical formation, of oxidative stress effects on phospholipids, proteins and DNA. Cell death: necrosis, apoptosis,autophagy and regulated necrosis (necroptosis, parthanatos, ferroptosis, pyroptosis). Cellular and tissue repair mechanisms. Genotoxicity, chemical carcinogenesis and developmental toxicity. 

Drug interactions. Introduction. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic mechanisms of drug-drug, drug-herb and drug-food interactions. Consultation databases.

Organ toxicity. Organ toxicity will be focused on neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicity: neuronopathies, axonopathies, myelinopathies, neurotransmission toxicity. Glutamate excitotoxicity: toxic effects of monosodium glutamate and of natural occuring agonists of glutamate receptors. Glutamate excitotoxicity and its role in acute and chronic disorders of the central nervous system (cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's Chorea, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Adult neurogenesis: a mechanism of cell replacement and neurorepair.

Toxicity tests. Acute toxicity test and determination of the LD50-TD50. Therapeutic index (TI) and margin of safety (MOS). Subacute, subchronic and chronic toxicity tests. Short and long-term carcinogenesis tests. Genotoxicity tests. Developmental toxicity test. 

Laboratory (1 CFU)

• Preparation and purification of isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes)
• Determination of synaptosome protein content by spectrophotometric analysis
• Assessment of synaptosome viability and response following exposure to xenobiotics by cytofluorimetric analysis
• Intracerebral microdialysis for in vivo pharmaco-toxicological studies in the central nervous system.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Galli, Corsini, Marinovich - Tossicologia. Ed. Piccin.

Greim, Deml - Tossicologia. Ed. Zanichelli.

Curtis D. Klaassen, Casarett, Doull's - Toxicology. The basic science of poisons. 9th edition. Ed.McGraw Hill.

Cantelli Forti, Galli, Hrelia, Marinovich - Tossicologia molecolare e cellulare. Ed. UTET.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ERNESTO FEDELE (President)

ALESSANDRO CORSARO

MASSIMO GRILLI

CAROLA TORAZZA

TULLIO FLORIO (President and Coordinator of Integrated Course)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course of Pharmacology and Toxicology is taught in the first semester of the Academic Year. According to the calendar of the Master's degree course, the lessons of the first semester will begin on October 1, 2025. The lessons of the Toxicology module will begin after those of Pharmacology. The exact date will be communicated to students using the AulaWeb portal.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The method for the assessment of learning outcomes includes an oral exam by the designated Commission, lasting approximately 30 minutes, on the topics covered during the lessons of the Toxicology module.

Students having valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities or other training needs regularly presented to the University, can submit requests for adaptation during the exam, which must be received at least 10 working days before the scheduled exam date, carefully following the instructions provided at the link https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed during the exam by evaluating the student's knowledge of the different topics covered in the program, the use of appropriate scientific terminology, and the ability to correlate concepts and reason scientifically. If the learning objectives are not met, the student will be invited to further assess his/her knowledge and, if necessary, request additional clarifications/explanations by contacting the teacher.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a valid certification of physical or learning disability filed with the University who wish to request compensatory tools, dispensation measures or other for lessons, assignments and exams, must contact both the teacher and the disability contact person.

Contact the teacher for further information not included in these Sections.