POSTGRADUATE PROGRAM
Introduction
The Master of Science (M. Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree programmes of the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology are designed to train experts needed to work in various sectors of the livestock industry or engage in research and teaching of pre-clinical subjects in veterinary schools and animal health departments of other tertiary institutions. The programmes are aimed at improving the supply of specialized manpower in the areas of Veterinary Biochemistry, Veterinary Pharmacology, Veterinary Physiology and Veterinary Toxicology.
Scope
The programmes expose students to an advanced knowledge of the principles and mechanisms of cellular metabolism, systemic functions, drug therapy and toxicities in domestic animals and their applications in animal health and production. Furthermore, the programmes offer a wide range of research fields as determined by the interests of the candidate and the supervisory team. These include problems in physiological, biochemical, cardiovascular, central nervous system and molecular aspects of veterinary pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, ethnopharmacology in Veterinary Pharmacology option; environmental toxicology, phytotoxicology and toxicology in Veterinary Toxicology; respiratory, endocrine, reproductive, cardiovascular, environmental, rumen physiology and bio-engineering , nutritional, neurophysiology & advanced cytology in Veterinary Physiology option; and problems in molecular, advanced nutritional, pharmacological, enzymology and metabolic pathways in the Veterinary Biochemistry option. Other techniques available are spectrophotometric assays, cell culture methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), rumen physiological methods, smooth and skeletal muscle recordings.
Job Opportunities
Career opportunities exist for successful M. Sc. and Ph.D. students in livestock divisions of both the Federal and State ministries of Agriculture and Natural resources; in teaching and research institutes; self-employment as private veterinary practitioners and consultants to public and private sector of the livestock industry; in institutions involved in animal production and health services and research such as the National Animal Production and Research institute (NAPRI) in Zaria, National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom; and in the Police; Customs and Excise Department and in the Armed Forces.
LIST OF APPROVED SUPERVISORS
Professors
- I. U. Asuzu, DVM, M. Sc. Ph. D., FCVSN – Phytopharmacology, Toxicology and Chemotherapy.
- C. N. Uchendu, DVM, M. Sc., M. Phil., Ph. D – Endocrinology, Reproductive Physiology
- A. O. Anaga, DVM., M. Sc., Ph.D.- Ethnopharmacology, Chemotherapy, Toxicology
- S. C. Udem, DVM., M. Sc., Ph. D. – Veterinary Biochemistry, Ethnopharmacological Biochemistry
- I. R. Obidike, DVM, M. Sc., Ph. D – Environmental Physiology and Reproductive Physiology
Readers
- E. Aba, DVM, M. Sc. Ph. D., FCVSN- Veterinary Biochemistry, Ethnopharmacological Biochemistry
- E. Ihedioha, DVM, M. Sc. Ph. D., FCVSN- Toxicology
- G. Eke, DVM, M. Sc. Ph. D., FCVSN- Chemotherapy,
- I. Odo, DVM, M. Sc. Ph. D., FCVSN- Endocrinology
- C. Mbegbu, DVM, M. Sc. Ph. D., FCVSN- Reproductive Physiology
M.Sc PROGRAMME
All MSc students are to register and take:
- Five compulsory faculty-based courses with a total credit unit load of 16.
- One compulsory Postgraduate course PGC 601 (Research Methodology and application of ICT in Research) (3 credit units).
- Other departmental courses as recommended for the student by the Supervisor / Department based on the student’s area of specialization which must constitute a minimum of 14 units.
Compulsory Faculty-based Courses for the MSc programme.
First Semester
Course No. Title Units
FVM 701 Research Methods and Scientific Writing 3
FVM 795 Research Project Proposal Seminar 2
Second Semester
Course No. Title Units
FVM 702 Biometrics and Computer Applications 3
FVM 796 Research Project Final Seminar 2
FVM 790 Research Project 6
Total – 16 units
Compulsory Postgraduate School course for MSc
Course No. Title Units
PGC 601 Research Methodology and application of ICT in Research 3
Departmental Courses for M.Sc in Veterinary Biochemistry
First Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 711 Clinical Veterinary Biochemistry 2
VPP 713 Advanced Veterinary Biochemistry 2
VPP 715 Pharmacological Biochemistry 2
VPP 717 Research Techniques in Veterinary Biochemistry 2
Second Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 712 Veterinary Molecular Biochemistry 2
VPP 714 Veterinary Nutritional Biochemistry 2
VPP 716 Enzymology and Metabolic Pathways 2
VPP 718 Special Problems in Veterinary Biochemistry 2
Departmental Courses for M.Sc in Veterinary Physiology
First Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 721 Research Techniques in Veterinary Physiology 2
VPP 723 Radioisotope and Radiation Physiology 2
VPP 725 Environmental Physiology 2
VPP 727 Avian Physiology 2
VPP 729 Endocrinology & Reproductive Physiology 3
VPP 761 Cell Physiology 2
Second Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 722 Physiology of Excitable Tissues 2
VPP 724 Haematology and Cardiovascular Physiology 2
VPP 726 Monogastric Physiology 2
VPP 728 Ruminant Physiology 2
VPP 760 Renal Physiology 2
VPP 762 Neurophysiology 2
Departmental Courses for M.Sc in Veterinary Pharamcology
First Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 731 Research Techniques in Veterinary Pharmacology 2
VPP 733 Biological Membranes and Molecular Transport 2
VPP 735 Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics 3
VPP 737 Comparative Biochemical Pharmacology 2
VPP 739 Veterinary Ethnopharmacology 2
VPP 751 Advanced Renal Pharmacology & Fluid/Electrolyte Therapy 2
VPP 753 Comparative Neuropharmacology 2
Second Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 732 Clinical Gastrointestinal Pharmacology 2
VPP 734 Veterinary Molecular Pharmacology 2
VPP 736 Advanced Chemotherapy 2
VPP 738 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology 2
VPP 752 Advanced Endocrine & Reproductive Pharmacology 2
Departmental Courses for M.Sc in Veterinary Toxicology
First Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 741 Research Techniques in Veterinary Toxicology 2
VPP 743 Phytotoxicology 2
VPP 745 Toxicology 2
Second Semester
Course No. Title Units
VPP 742 Environmental Toxicology 2
VPP 744 Advanced Diagnostic Toxicology 2
VPP 746 Forensic Toxicology 2
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Degree Programme
All PhD students must register and take the following faculty-based courses totaling 30 credit units plus the Postgraduate School based course, Synopsis and Grant Writing (3 credit units).
Course No. Title Units
FVM 895 Ph.D Research Project Proposal Seminar 2
FVM 896 Ph.D Research Project Progress Report Seminar 2
FVM 897 Ph.D Research Project Final Seminar 2
PGC 701 Synopsis and Grant writing 3
FVM 890 Thesis 24
Total – 33 units
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMME
Compulsory Faculty-based Courses
FVM 701 Research Methods and Scientific Writing [3 units]
Definitions, value and philosophy of research. Types of studies / research. Choice of research topics. Definition of background of study, statement of problem, research question, objectives and hypotheses. Research design, sampling, sourcing, collation and analysis of data. Presentation and interpretation of results. Technical report writing. Critique of published papers. Presentation of research findings.
FVM 702 Biometrics and Computer Applications [3 units]
Definitions and value of biometry in scientific research. Variability and normal distribution. Probability, binomial and Poisson distributions. Populations and sampling. Testing differences between means. Students t – test. Chi – square. Correlation and Regression analysis. Analysis of variance. Other relevant statistics. Basics of computer appreciation. Software packages relevant to scientific and veterinary medical research and their use. Presentation of scientific reports
FVM 795 Research Project Proposal Seminar [2 units]
Seminar on proposed M.Sc research project highlighting background of the study, review of literature on current state of knowledge of the area of research, statement of problem, objectives of the study, proposed methodology and expected output/significance of the study.
FVM 796 Research Project Final Seminar [2 units]
Final seminar on M.Sc research project highlighting background of the study, statement of problem, objectives of the study, methods used in carrying out the study and analysis of the data generated, results, discussion of the results and recommendations arising from the findings of the study.
FVM 790 Research Project [6 units]
Research project in the student’s area of study, leading to a Project Report that shall be examined by an External Examiner.
Compulsory Postgraduate course
PGC 601: Research Methodology and application of ICT in Research [3 units]
In-depth research work aimed at acquiring full knowledge and presentations in scholarly writing of the concepts, issues, trends in the definition and development of the study area from African and Western perspectives. Major steps in research: selection of problem, literature, literature review, Design, Data collection, analysis and interpretation, Conclusions. Study of various research designs, Historical, Case studies, Surveys, Descriptive, cross sectional, Experimental etc. Analysis, surveys and synthesis of conceptual and philosophical foundations of different disciplines. Identification of research problems and development of research questions and or hypotheses. Detailed treatment of methods of collecting relevant research data and the format for presenting research results (from designing the table of contents to referencing, bibliography and appendix). Data analysis and result presentation in different disciplines using appropriate analytical tools. Methods of project/dissertation writing. Application of appropriate advanced ICT tools relevant in every discipline for data gathering, analysis and result presentation. Essentials of spreadsheets, internet technology, and internet search engines. All registered Masters Degree students must attend a solution-based interactive workshop to be organized by the School of Postgraduate Studies for a practical demonstration and application of the knowledge acquired from the course, conducted by selected experts.
Departmental Courses
Veterinary Biochemistry
VPP 711 Clinical Veterinary Biochemistry [2 units]
Composition of plasma of domestic animals in health and disease, Plasma Proteins, Homeostasis, Serum enzymes in health and disease, Immunoglobulins, Haemoglobulins, Haemoglobulin Chemistry and Respiratory function, Polymorphism. Lymph and Cerebrospinal fluid. Regulation of acid base balance in health and disease.
VPP 712 Veterinary Molecular Biochemistry [2 units]
Bacterial and viral chromosomes, bacterial plasmid, replication, transcription, transcription and transport of Prokaryotic genomes. Regulation of protein biosynthesis. Transposons as mobile
genetic elements. Eukaryotic chromosomes and ultrastructural organization. DNA synthesis in eukaryotes and RNA polymerase. Biochemical aspect of cell division, cell cloning and cell fusion. Genetic engineering and its social implication. Biochemistry of growth and differentiation of eukaryotes. Molecular evolution and genetic code.
VPP 713 Advanced Veterinary Biochemistry [2 units]
Enzymes and their properties; the roles of enzymes and hormones in metabolic regulation. Biochemical oxidation and electron transport; changes in metabolic processes in ruminants and non-ruminants, inborn errors in metabolism.
VPP 714 Veterinary Nutritional Biochemistry [2 units]
Dietary essentiality of carbohydrates and lipids. Concepts, quality and biological value of proteins. Physiological function and biochemical mechanism of action of vitamins and inorganic nutrients. Metabolic interaction of nutrients. Proximate composition of food stuff, estimation of fibre, toxin additives, vitamins, trace elements and amino acids. Biochemical assessment of malnutrition adaptive responses to under nutrition, fibre in nutrition, protein energy malnutrition. Deficiency of zinc, selenium and some vitamins.
VPP 715 Pharmacological Biochemistry [2 units]
Modern biochemical techniques in pharmacology, Principles of biochemical pharmacology. Detoxication of toxicants. Storage and excretion of toxin compounds. Parasitism and metabolic response to infections, immunization, drug and selective toxicity. Microbial drug resistance.
VPP 716 Enzymology and Metabolic Pathways [2 units]
Classification and nomenclature of enzymes. Extraction and purification of enzymes. Specificity of enzyme action. Kinetics of single substrate enzymes catalyzed reactions. Enzyme inhibitions. Kinetics of multi-substrate enzyme catalysis reaction. Investigation of active site structure. Application of enzyme technology. Immobilized enzymes and enzyme utilization in industries. Ligand binding. Kinetics of multi-binding sites. Structure and mechanism of selected enzymes. Integration and regulation of metabolism, oxidative and photo-phosphorylation. Membrane carbohydrate and surface specificity.
VPP 717 Research Techniques in Veterinary Biochemistry [2 units]
Experimental design for problems in Veterinary biochemistry – separation techniques – chromatography (thin layer, column, high performance lipid chromatography, gas lipid chromatography etc.), separation of proteins; techniques used in gene and gene mapping.
VPP 718 Special Problems in Veterinary Biochemistry [2 units]
The student will be required carry out a study of a special problem or topic not in regular offered courses and which is not part of his/her dissertation research.
VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY
VPP 721 Research Techniques in Veterinary Physiology [2 units]
Experimental design in veterinary physiology, management of laboratory animals; in vivo and in vitro approaches for various physiological studies. Modern instrumentation for measuring tissue responses and metabolic products.
VPP 722 Physiology of Excitable Tissues [2 units]
Autonomic nervous system, distribution and control. Excitable tissues, cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscles. Mechanism of muscle contraction. Excitation contraction coupling process. Receptors and receptor types.
VPP 723 Radioisotope and Radiation Physiology [2 units]
Radiation and radionuclides. Radiation dose, physical Radiation protection. Direct and indirect action of Irradiation. Principles of radioimmunoassay. Radioisotopes in medicine and their physiological effects.
VPP 724 Haematology and Cardiovascular Physiology [2 units]
Blood and cellular elements. Blood groups, homeostasis and blood buffers in animals. Electrical and mechanical activity of the heart including cardiac cycle, cardiac output determinations and controls. Blood pressure regulation, regional circulation and cardiovascular homeostasis in physiological state.
VPP 725 Environmental Physiology [2 units]
Skin structure and its physiology, poilklothernism and homeothermism. Physiological and biochemical process in hibernation. Body temperature and regulation. Physiological responses to heat and cold. Acclimatization and adaptive phenomenon. Pathophysiology of fever, hyperthermia and hypothermia. Climatic changes on the physiology of domestic animals.
VPP 726 Monogastric Physiology [2 units]
Basic anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract of the monogastric animals. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in monastics. Nutrition and metabolism in monogastric animals.
VPP 727 Avian Physiology [2 units]
Respiration in birds, anatomy and functions of the lungs and air sac, avian digestion. Regulation of food intake and avian reproduction.
VPP 728 Ruminant Physiology [2 units]
Review of the anatomy of digestive system of the ruminant animals. Patho-physiology of the ruminant digestive tract, traumatic reticulitis, tympany and torsion. Nutrition and metabolism of ruminants.
VPP 729 Endocrinology & Reproductive Physiology [3 units]
Central control of reproduction, reproductive endocrinology, reproductive cycles, folliculogenesis, spermatogenesis, prostate physiology, gamete physiology, gamete transport, coitus, fertilization, sex determination and differentiation, embryonic development, implantation, placentation, pregnancy, maternal recognition of pregnancy, parturition. Prenatal foetal physiology and adaptation for survival in the periparturient period. Post-partum physiology, uterine involution and resumption of cyclicity. Biotechnology in mammalian reproduction.
VPP 760 Renal Physiology [2 units]
Basic concepts of renal physiology. Glomerular filtration, reabsorption and secretion. Transport systems across the tubules, functions of renal tubule and mechanism concentration, reabsorption and excretion. Measurement of renal function and clearance.
VPP 761 Cell Physiology [2 units]
Advance study of the function of organized cellular and subcellular systems
VPP 762 Neurophysiology [2 units]
Sensory systems and sensory pathways, thalamus, sensory cortex, special senses. Motor system, motor unit, spinal motor system, muscles spindle and motor pathways. Reflexes, basal ganglia, cerebellum. Brain stem. Anatomy and functional subdivision of cortex, cortical lesion. Reticular activating system, electroencephalogram, sleep, learning and memory, limbic system.
VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY
VPP 731 Research Techniques in Veterinary Pharmacology [2 units]
Experimental designs for problems in veterinary pharmacology, management of laboratory animals. In vivo and in vitro approaches for various pharmacological effects. Isolated tissue and whole animal experimental procedures. Modern instrumentation for measuring tissue responses and other pharmacological effects. Ligand binding and radioactivity. Radioimmunoassay techniques. Generation of data and data analyses.
VPP 732 Clinical Gastrointestinal Pharmacology [2 units]
Review of pharmacology of drugs affecting the gastro-intestinal system including purgatives, anti-diarrheal, emetics and antiemetic, sialics and anti-sialics, protective, and ruminant digestive pharmacology.
VPP 733 Biological Membranes and Molecular Transport [2 units]
Review of cells and cell membranes, transport of drugs across membranes, ionization of drug and other factors affecting drug movement in the body. Methods of drug movement across cell membranes. Principles of drug absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion.
VPP 734 Veterinary Molecular Pharmacology [2 units]
Foundations of molecular pharmacology. The chemical basis of drug action; Molecular biology and animal genetic diseases. Receptor based strategies for the development of new pharmaceuticals. Gene transfer and gene therapy in animals. Gene mapping and molecular diagnosis. Genomes of protozoan parasites. Recombinant of DNA technology in the diagnosis of African livestock diseases. Transfecting genes
VPP 735 Advanced Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics [3 units]
Principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacokinetic models, calculations of kinetic parameters and observations in normal and diseases states. Mechanisms of drugs action and quantification. Dose response relationships. Drug receptors and spare receptors, etc.
VPP 736 Advanced Chemotherapy [2 units]
Principles of chemotherapy. Drug reaction, interaction and toxicology. Drug resistance. Chemotherapeutic agents: antiprotozoals, anthelmintics, antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and anti-neoplastics. Feed additives and growth promoters.
VPP 737 Comparative Biochemical Pharmacology [2 units]
Modern techniques used to understand biochemical bases of pharmacological actions of drugs in domestic animals. Biochemical lesions induced by diseases and toxic chemicals and the bases of specific remedial therapy overcoming such lesions.
VPP 738 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology [2 units]
Current trends, innovations in clinical pharmacology that is relevant to postgraduate studies. Principles of pharmacy, compounding and prescription writing. Drug interactions and incompatibility, therapeutic strategies and choice of drugs. Monitoring of therapeutic responses. Drug legislation in Nigeria.
VPP 739 Veterinary Ethnopharmacology [2 units]
Indigenous plants used for the treatment of conditions in domestic animals. A review of principles of traditional practices in the treatment of animal diseases. Extraction techniques, modern separation techniques. Bioassay-guided procedure for identifying active fractions. Pharmacological testings used in vivo and in vitro models. Determination of mechanism of action. Acute and chronic toxicity tests. Determination of effective and toxic doses. Physical identification methods for isolated compounds e.g. UV, IR, NMR, GLC, MS, HPLC etc. Drug development and clinical trials.
VPP 751 Advanced Renal Pharmacology & Fluid Electrolyte Therapy [2 units]
Review of renal physiology. Pharmacology and toxicity of drugs affecting the kidney and renal excretion. Principles of fluid and electrolyte therapy. Uses of various types of fluids in the management of diseases. Fluid therapy in anaesthesia, dehydration, toxicity etc. Estimation of degrees of dehydration and the calculation of fluid volumes.
VPP 752 Advanced Endocrine and Reproductive Pharmacology [2 units]
Pharmacology of drugs affecting the endocrine and reproductive systems. Antithyroid drugs and inhibitors, ACTH and synthetic analogues, inhibitors of corticosteroids biosynthesis. Reproduction hormones and their antagonists. Drugs affecting uterine motility and fertility.
VPP 753 Comparative Neuropharmacology [2 units]
Brief review of the physiology of automatic and central nervous systems. Pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system and neuromuscular junction. Theories of anaesthesia; general and local anesthetic agents, central nervous system stimulants, hypnotics, sedatives and tranquillizers.
VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY
VPP 741 Research Techniques in Veterinary Toxicology [2 units]
Experimental design for problems in toxicology. In vitro and in vivo approaches for various toxicological studies. Modern instrumentation used in toxicological studies like spectrophotometry, chromatographic techniques, spectrofluorimetry, subcellular fractionation, gel electrophoresis.
VPP 742 Environmental Toxicology [2 units]
Natural and environmental toxicants; air pollution, water pollution, food contamination. Pesticides and Herbicides toxicity and management. Radiation toxicity. Effects on body systems, heavy metals intoxication and Managements. Climatic change and global warming
VPP 743 Phytotoxicology [2 units]
Factors influencing poisoning in animals by plants. Various plants implicated in cases of poisoning of animals in Nigeria, their toxicity, toxic principle, pathology, and management.
VPP 744 Advanced Diagnostic Toxicology [2 units]
Clinical and laboratory procedures employed in the Diagnosis of poisons. Emphasis will be on observed signs, sample collection, types and quantity of samples to be collected, storage of samples, post-mortem findings, and histopathological examination of tissues and chemical analysis for presence to poisons.
VPP 745 Toxicology [2 units]
Animal toxins/venoms such snake venoms, bee/wasp toxins; poisonous fishes, toads etc. will be studied. Anti-toxins and other agents employed in the management of such toxicities will also be undertaken.
VPP 746 Forensic Toxicology [2 units]
Principles of investigative toxicology. Mechanistic and forensic approach to the study of toxicology. The use of advanced physical and chemical techniques and electron microscopy in toxicology.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMME
FVM 895 Ph.D Research Project Proposal Seminar [2 units]
Seminar on proposed Ph.D research project highlighting background of the study, review of literature on current state of knowledge of the area of research, statement of problem, objectives of the study, proposed methodology and expected output/significance of the study.
FVM 896 Ph.D Research Project Progress Report Seminar [2 units]
Progress report seminar on the Ph.D research project highlighting background of the study, statement of problem, objectives of the study, methods used so far in the study, results generated, challenges encountered, changes if any in the design of the study and general discussion of the future prospects of the study.
FVM 897 Ph.D Research Project Final Seminar [2 units]
Final seminar on the Ph.D research project highlighting background of the study, statement of problem, objectives of the study, methods used in carrying out the study and analysis of the data generated, results, discussion of the results and recommendations arising from the findings of the study.
PGC 701: SYNOPSIS AND GRANT WRITING [3 units]
Identification of types and nature of grant writing; mining of grants application calls on the internet. Determining appropriate strategy for each grant application. Study of various grant application structures and contents and writing of concept notes, detailed project description, budgeting and budget defense. Study of sample grant writings in various forms and writing of mock research and other grants. Identification of University of Nigeria synopsis structure requirements (Introduction, Methodology and Results). Determining the content of each sub-unit of the synopsis. Steps in writing of synopsis from the dissertation/Thesis document. Structural and language issues. Common errors in synopsis writing and strategies for avoiding them. The roles of the student and the supervisor in the production of a synopsis. Writing of mock synopsis. All registered ph.D students must attend a solution based interactive workshop to be organized by the school of Postgraduate Studies for a practical demonstration and application of the knowledge acquired from the course, conducted by selected experts.
FVM 890 Thesis [24 units]
Doctor of Philosophy research project in the student’s area of study, under the guidance of an approved supervisor. The study must be original and the topic comprehensively researched. The output should contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge in the area of study. The write-up (thesis) shall be examined by an External Examiner.