History of the Department

Faculty of Medicine at Ondokuz Mayis University was established in 1975, and also Department of Physiology in 1982. Prior to 1982, Physiology education of our faculty was conducted in Faculty of Medicine at Hacettepe University, but since 1982, it has been conducted by the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine at Ondokuz Mayis University . Dr. Niyazi TAŞÇI was appointed as an assistant professor to department in 1982, and attained associate professor position in 1997 and professor position in 2003. He retired in 2015. In 1985, Dr. Cafer MARANGOZ, an associate professor from Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Atatürk University was appointed as an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and later became a professor in 1989. Prof. Dr. Cafer MARANGOZ retired in 2014. Prof. Dr. Cafer played a pivotal role in establishing our department, creating the NeuroPhysiology Laboratory, and significantly contributed to our department's current status by initiating research on epilepsy and neuronal death.

In 1986, biologist Erdal AĞAR was appointed as research assistant in Physiology department. He completed his master's degree in 1988 and pursued his doctorate at Newcastle Upon Tyne University in England in 1989. He successfully completed his PhD in 1993 and was subsequently appointed as an assistant professor. He achieved the title of associate professor in 1994 and became a full professor in 1999.

Biologist Mustafa AYYILDIZ initiated his master's degree in the Department of Physiology in 1986. He was appointed as a research assistant in 1987 and later as a lecturer in 1989. In 1996, he became an assistant professor and obtained the title of associate professor and full professor in 1998 and 2008 respectively.

Dr. Faruk BAĞIRICI joined our department as a lecturer in 1996, and he earned the title of associate professor in 2002. In 2007, he was promoted to a full professor but left our department in 2016.

Dr. Ayhan BOZKURT completed his master's degree at Marmara University in 1997 and successfully obtained PhD degree in 2003. He was appointed as an Assistant Professor in 2003 and achieved the title of associate professor in 2005. He was promoted to a full professor in 2013.

Dr. Gökhan Arslan was appointed as an assistant professor in 2017, and obtained the title of associate professor in 2020.

Dr. Emre Soner Tiryaki joined as a Lecturer in 2021.

Prof. Dr. Sebahat Turgut and Prof. Dr. Günfer Turgut were appointed to our department in April 2022.

Prof. Dr. Niyazi TAŞÇI (1982-1985), Prof. Dr. Cafer MARANGOZ (1985- 2015), and Prof. Dr. Erdal AĞAR 2015-2021) were head of the Department of Physiology. Prof. Dr. Mustafa AYYILDIZ is head of the Department of Physiology since 2021 (September).

Prof. Dr. Ayhan BOZKURT / Prof. Dr. Erdal AĞAR / Prof. Dr. Mustafa AYYILDIZ

Education

Our department provides theoretical and practical Physiology courses to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year English and Turkish Medicine students. Additionally, we are teaching Physiology courses to the Departments of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing, and Midwifery in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Pharmacy.

Furthermore, our department has both Turkish and English master's (MSc) and doctoral (PhD) programs. The Master's program in Turkish was initiated in 1986, while the PhD program in Turkish started in 1989. English Master's and Doctorate programs has started in 2015.

Moreover, our department actively contributes to the teaching of Physiology and Neuroscience courses in the master's and doctoral programs of the Departments of Neurosciences, Clinical Neurosciences, Home Care Nursing, and Emergency Nursing. 14 MSc, 13 specialist, and 20 PhD students have graduated from our programs.

Theoretical Structure and Academic Purpose of the Department:

Faculty members in our department are actively engaged in research to address issues related to physiological mechanisms, with a particular focus on areas such as neurotoxicology and epilepsy. Our primary academic goal is to contribute to the development of treatment protocols and the understanding of the mechanisms involved in physiological and pathological events.

To achieve this goal, we collaborate on joint research projects with various departments and faculties, including the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Dentistry, and both the Basic and Clinical Medical Sciences departments. By conducting interdisciplinary research and forming partnerships, we aim to shed light on the intricate mechanisms that underlie physiological and pathological processes and to develop effective treatment strategies in these areas.

Our department is actively involved in conducting research projects that encompass both independent investigations and collaborative efforts with other fields within the health sciences. We maintain multidisciplinary relationships with several departments and faculties, including:Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Collaborations in areas such as pharmacology and pathology. Faculty of Dentistry: Cooperation, especially with the department of maxillofacial surgery and prosthesis.Clinical and Fundamental Medical Sciences: Collaborations with departments including brain surgery, orthopedic plastic surgery, neurology, medical pharmacology, anesthesiology and reanimation, and biochemistry, histology, and anatomy.

Furthermore, we maintain connections with Yaşar Doğu Faculty of Sports Sciences, particularly in the field of exercise Physiology.

Our department is well-equipped with various specialized laboratories, including:

 Molecular Research Laboratory

 Brain Research Laboratory

 Stereology Laboratory

 ElectroPhysiology Laboratory

Stereology Laboratory - Dr. Süleyman Emre Kocacan ve Dr. Mohamed Hassan MOHAMUD

Within these facilities, we employ a wide range of research techniques and methodologies, including electrophysiological and stereological methods. Our research encompasses both in vivo and in vitro studies on various topics such as epilepsy, neurotoxicity, neuronal and hemispheric asymmetry, reflexes, neuroanatomical tracing, extracellular and intracellular recordings, current and voltage measurements, patch clamp recordings, immunohistochemistry, apoptosis, electroneuromyography (ENMG), as well as investigations related to pain and the gastrointestinal system. This comprehensive approach enables us to advance our understanding of a wide array of physiological and pathological processes.

The results we have obtained aim to understand how newly discovered drugs and endogenous substances affect biological systems and how these substances interact with each other. In this way, we strive to advance our understanding of physiological and pathological processes and provide valuable insights to the scientific community.

Brain Research Laboratory – Büşra Okuyucu, F Banu Ayçık, Burcu Hatipoğlu

Researh Assistants - Elif Türkdönmez Ak ve Rümeysa Abdullahoğlu

Gastrointestinal System and Algology Laboratory - Research assistants - Araş. Gör Yeliz Çelik ve Araş. Gör. Rümeysa Abdullahoğlu

Therewithal, our Department's mission includes the training and development of scientists. We are dedicated to nurturing individuals who have the skills to engage in independent scientific research. This training is provided through our postgraduate programs (medical specialization,Master Science and PhD programs)

RESEARCHES

Until now, our department has successfully completed more than 50 BAP (The Scientific Research Projects) projects. Our laboratories primarily focus on conducting experimental studies related to epilepsy, gastrointestinal functions, and pain. For our epilepsy research, we use various models, including the penicillin, acute PTZ, kindling (PTZ), and absence epilepsy models.

Furthermore, we have engaged in collaborative projects with external institutions. Notably, between 1993 and 1996, we conducted a joint project with the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine at Newcastle upon Tyne University which funded by the British Council. Additionally, our department has organized joint studies and seminars with the participation of Assoc. Professor Dr. Hatice İSMAİLOVA and Prof. Dr. Faig CEFEROV from the Department of Physiology at Azerbaijan Medical University in 1998, as part of the 1995 DOPROG program, with funding from TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

The international bilateral cooperation project supported by TUBITAK and the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences was completed between 2011 and 2013. (Project Director: Prof. Dr. Erdal Agar TÜBİTAK Project No: 110S266 "The Role of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor in the Proconvulsant Effect of Leptin on Epileptiform Activity in Different Experimental Epilepsy Models”)

Two TÜBİTAK 1001 and two TÜBİTAK 1002 projects have been completed in our department. The titles of these projects are as follows:

 "TÜBİTAK project no: 215S808, "Investigation of the Effect of Hemopressin and Hemopressin- Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Relationship in Different Experimental Epilepsy Models" Project Director Prof. Dr. Erdal Ağar,

 TÜBİTAK project no: 115S361, "The Effect of Purinergic P2x7 Receptor on Penicillin-Induced Epileptiform Activity and the Role of Cannabinoid, NMDA and T-type Calcium Ion Channels in this effect" Project Director Prof. Dr. Erdal Ağar"

 TÜBİTAK project no: 119S194, "The Role of 5-HT7 Serotonin Receptor in Penicillin-Induced Epileptiform Activity and its Interaction with T-Type Calcium Channel " Project Director Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ayyıldız

 TÜBİTAK proje no: 220S126 “Effect of Cannabinoid Receptors on Rat Fasting Small Intestinal Myoelectric Activity” Project Director Prof. Dr. Ayhan Bozkurt

Some articles published by our department:

Academic Activities Organized by the Department

¨The 24th National Congress of the Turkish Physiological Sciences Association was organized by Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondopkuz Mayis University (14-19th September, 1998).

¨ Senior Lecturer Gary G. GREEN and Senior Lecturer Dawid J. SANDERS from England conducted their BRITISH COUNCIL-supported research in our Department.

National and International Academic Institutions with which the Department interacts

• Turkish Physiological Sciences Association,

• Federation of European Physiological Societies (FEPS),

• Stereological Sciences Association

Academic Staff:

Prof. Dr. Mustafa AYYILDIZ (Head of the Department)

Prof. Dr. Erdal AĞAR

Prof. Dr. Ayhan BOZKURT

Prof. Dr. Sebahat TURGUT

Prof. Dr. Günfer TURGUT

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan ARSLAN

Lec. Dr. Emre Soner TİRYAKİ

Research Assistants:

Fatma Banu ŞEN AYÇIK

Fırat AYÇIK

Burcu HATİPOĞLU

Büşra OKUYUCU

Rümeysa ABDULLAHOĞLU

Yeliz ÇELİK

Elif TÜRKDÖNMEZ AK

Administrative staff :

Ayşe Köse

Özgür Akpınar

Physiology Department’s Staff

Graduated Students from the Department of Physiology