2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Animal Physiology
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Nobuhiro Nakamura / Nobuaki Shiraki / Yoh-Ichi Tagawa / Kumi Kuroda
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Mon (M-178(H1101)) / 7-8 Thu (M-178(H1101))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A344
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 18, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Animal physiology is the science that seeks to explain the physical and chemical mechanisms that are responsible for the origin, development, and progression of life, and is fundamental to understanding human health and disease.
This course aims to help students understand the basic concepts and mechanisms of how multicellular animals maintain homeostasis through various organ systems, such as the cardiovascular and digestive systems. This course also aims for students to understand molecular mechanisms of 1) the endocrine system that detects and responses to changes in internal environment of the body and 2) the immune system that recognizes and eliminates foreign substances and organisms, such as pathogens.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the functions of organ systems and tissue homeostasis in animals.
2) Explain endocrine regulation of homeostasis and its signaling mechanisms.
3) Explain the basic concepts of the immunological defense system.
Keywords
Homeostasis, Cardiovascular system, Digestive systems, Immunology, Endocrine, Metabolism
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students may be given written tests or reports. The score of tests/reports will be used for academic assessment.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The basics of animal physiology (Kuroda) |
Students can explain the animal body system, spanning from cells, tissues, to organs, as well as the homeostatic regulation. |
| Class 2 | The cardiovascular system (Kuroda) |
Students can explain the basics about the cardiovascular system, its functions and research methodologies. |
| Class 3 | What is the endocrine system? Endocrine system vs. nervous system (Shiraki) |
Students can explain basic issues of the endocrine system. Preparation and review of the textbook are strongly recommended. |
| Class 4 | Hormones, receptors, and signal transduction (Shiraki) |
Students can explain the relationship between the hormone and hormone receptors and hormone-mediated signal transduction. Preparation and review of the textbook are strongly recommended. |
| Class 5 | Hormones, receptors, and signal transduction (Shiraki) |
Students can explain stress-induced hormone secretion and hormone-mediated glucose metabolism. Preparation and review of the textbook are strongly recommended. |
| Class 6 | Physiological roles of hormones (2): Body fluid regulation |
Students can explain the mechanisms of body fluids regulation through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Preparation and review of the textbook are strongly recommended. |
| Class 7 | The digestive system (Kuroda) |
Students can explain the basics about the digestive system and the relevant metabolic system. Preparation and review of the lecture are strongly recommended. |
| Class 8 | Other organ systems (Kuroda) |
Students can explain the basics about the other organ systems such as respiratory, urinary, reproductive systems. Preparation and review of the lecture are strongly recommended. |
| Class 9 | Mid-term examination (class ＃1-8) |
Evaluate the understanding of Classes 1-8. Review of the lectures is strongly recommended. |
| Class 10 | The mechanism of generating antibody diversity (Nakamura) |
Students can explain the mechanism of antibody diversity (immunoglobulins). |
| Class 11 | Infection and inflammation (Tagawa) |
Students can explain infections of microbes, including viruses, bacteria and |
| Class 12 | Innate and acquired immunity (Tagawa) |
Students can explain innate and acquired immunity, which is the host's defense |
| Class 13 | Immunological studies using developmental engineering technology (Tagawa) |
Students can explain immunological studies using transgenic and gene knockout animals. |
| Class 14 | Animal models of autoimmune diseases & Examination (Tagawa) |
Students can explain autoimmune disease studies using their model animals. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
（Shiraki) Donald Voet, Judith G.Voet, BIOCHEMISTRY (Tokyo Kagaku Dozin) Part 16-19, ISBN978-4-8079-0807-3
（Nakamura, Tagawa）Bruce Albert et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th Edition (Newton Press) Chapter 24-25, ISBN978-4-315-
51867-2
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Course materials will be provided during class or through LMS as the need arises.
（Shiraki) Kazuwa Nakano 『SAISHIN NAIBUNPITSUTAISHYAGAKU』 (SHINDAN TO CHIRYO SHA) (in Japanease), ISBN978-4-7878-1937-6
（Nakamura, Tagawa）『JANEWAY'S Immunobiology』 Nankodo
Evaluation methods and criteria
Academic assessment will be done by the scores of written tests and/or reports.
In cases of plagiarism, unauthorized use, or other misconduct, we will treat it strictly.
Related courses
- LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
- LST.A335 ： Molecular Genetics
- LST.A362 ： Evolution and Developmental Biology
- LST.A346 ： Basic Neuroscience
- LST.A406 ： Molecular Developmental Biology and Evolution
- LST.A401 ： Molecular and Cellular Biology
- LST.A404 ： Cell Physiology
- LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
- LST.A352 ： Cell Engineering
- LST.A421 ： Functional Life Science
Prerequisites
Student are recommended to complete classes of 6Q and 7Q, Molecular biology 1 and 2, and 9Q Genetics.