Professor James Deuchars
BSc, Glasgow; PhD 1992, London.
Professor of Systems Neuroscience
Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology
Office: Garstang G5.53g
Phone: +44(0) 113 34 35594
Email: j.deuchars@leeds.ac.uk
Centre membership:
Research Interests
How the central nervous system controls the cardiovascular system
Worldwide, hypertension and associated cardiovascular problems are on the increase. One currently untapped avenue for treatment is manipulation of areas of the central nervous system involved in cardiovascular control. Our aim is to further current understanding in these areas to open up the possibility of new interventions. Using a multidisciplinary approach we employ neuroanatomical, electrophysiological and molecular biological methods to investigate properties of neuronal circuits in the CNS that underly control of the cardiovascular system.
Current Projects
Physiology and neuroanatomy of purinergic neurotransmission; ion channels in CNS neurones; neuronal circuitry in the spinal cord and medulla oblongata controlling the cardiovascular system; GABAc receptors in CNS neurones.
We are interested in the role of interneurones in the central autonomic control of the heart and circulation. Projects currently running in the laboratory are looking at two regions in this circuitry - the brainstem and the spinal cord:-
The brainstem receives information from the body about the state of the circulation with every beat of the heart. Most of this input terminates in the nucleus of the tractus solitarius. This region of the brainstem then assimilates this information and sends relevant details to the output regions of the CNS to hold the cardiovascular system at its desirable level. The NTS is known to have a complicated circuitry involved in processing all this information and many interneurones are included in this circuitry. These projects are investigating the physiology, pharmacology and anatomy of these neuronal circuits
The heart and circulatory system are controlled in part by the sympathetic nervous system which can be regulated by the brain as well as feedback from the body. A major level of control occurs in the spinal cord where sympathetic preganglionic neurones (SPNs) contribute to the control of heart rate and blood pressure. These SPNs are influenced by pathways from the brain and body which can act via small local cells (interneurones). To date, very little is known about the characteristics of these interneurones - where they are located, which neurones link to these cells, what neurotransmitters they contain and how they talk to the SPNs. We are therefore interested in determining these characteristics since we believe that these cells play a prominent role in the control of the circulation in both health and disease.
Our research receives support from the British Heart Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, The Royal Society and the BBSRC.
Studentship information
Postgraduate studentship areas:
- The role of the central nervous system in control of blood pressure.
See also:
- Faculty Graduate School
- Project details at FindaPhD.com
Publications
Voytenko LP; Lushnikova IV; Skok MV; Lykhmus OY; Deuchars J; Skibo GG Co-Expression of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Isoform 67, Membrane Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, and Connexin 36 in Ischemia-Resistant Hippocampal Interneurons, 2012
Hogarth AJ; Graham LN; Corrigan JH; Deuchars J; Mary DASG; Greenwood JP Sympathetic nerve hyperactivity and its effect in postmenopausal women JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION 29 2167-2175, 2011
DOI:10.1097/HJH.0b013e32834b8014
Dallas ML; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J Immunopharmacology: Utilizing antibodies as ion channel modulators Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 3 281-289, 2010
Pierce ML; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA SPONTANEOUS RHYTHMOGENIC CAPABILITIES OF SYMPATHETIC NEURONAL ASSEMBLIES IN THE RAT SPINAL CORD SLICE NEUROSCIENCE 170 827-838, 2010
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.07.007
Wang L; Bruce G; Spary E; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA GABA(B) Mediated Regulation of Sympathetic Preganglionic Neurons: Pre- and Postsynaptic Sites of Action. Front Neurol 1 142-, 2010
DOI:10.3389/fneur.2010.00142
Brooke RE; Corns L; Edwards IJ; Deuchars J Kv3.3 immunoreactivity in the vestibular nuclear complex of the rat with focus on the medial vestibular nucleus: Targeting of Kv3.3 neurones by terminals positive for vesicular glutamate transporter 1 BRAIN RESEARCH 1345 45-58, 2010
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2010.05.020
Edwards IJ; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J The intermedius nucleus of the medulla: A potential site for the integration of cervical information and the generation of autonomic responses JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL NEUROANATOMY 38 166-175, 2009
DOI:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2009.01.001
Dallas ML; Morris NP; Lewis DI; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J Voltage-gated potassium currents within the dorsal vagal nucleus: Inhibition by BDS toxin BRAIN RESEARCH 1189 51-57, 2008
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2007.10.090
Kreuzberg MM; Deuchars J; Weiss E; Schoberd A; Sonntag S; Wlershaus K; Draguhn A; Willecke K Expression of connexin30.2 in interneurons of the central nervous system in the mouse MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE 37 119-134, 2008
DOI:10.1016/j.mcn.2007.09.003
Wellershaus K; Degen J; Deuchars J; Theis M; Charollais A; Caille D; Gauthier B; Janssen-Bienhold U; Sonntag S; Herrera P; Meda P; Willecke K A new conditional mouse mutant reveals specific expression and functions of connexin36 in neurons and pancreatic beta-cells EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH 314 997-1012, 2008
DOI:10.1016/j.yexcr.2007.12.024
Dallas ML; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J Modulation of potassium ion channel proteins utilising antibodies. Methods Mol Biol 491 247-255, 2008
DOI:10.1007/978-1-59745-526-8_19
Wang L; Spary E; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA Tonic GABAergic Inhibition of Sympathetic Preganglionic Neurons: A Novel Substrate for Sympathetic Control JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 28 12445-12452, 2008
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2951-08.2008
Van Der Giessen RS; Koekkoek SK; van Dorp S; De Gruijl JR; Cupido A; Khosrovani S; Dortland B; Wellershaus K; Degen J; Deuchars J; Fuchs EC; Monyer H; Willecke K; De Jeu MTG; De Zeeuw CI Role of olivary electrical coupling in cerebellar motor learning NEURON 58 599-612, 2008
DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2008.03.016
Poole SL; Deuchars J; Lewis DI; Deuchars SA Subdivision-specific responses of neurons in the nucleus of the tractus Solitarius to activation of mu-opioid receptors in the rat JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY 98 3060-3071, 2007
DOI:10.1152/jn.00755.2007
Edwards IJ; Dallas ML; Poole SL; Milligan CJ; Yanagawa Y; Szabo G; Erdelyi F; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J The neurochemically diverse intermedius nucleus of the medulla as a source of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input to the nucleus tractus solitarii JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 27 8324-8333, 2007
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0638-07.2007
Bettini NL; Moores TS; Baxter B; Deuchars J; Parson SH Dynamic remodelling of synapses can occur in the absence of the parent cell body BMC NEUROSCIENCE 8 -, 2007
DOI:10.1186/1471-2202-8-79
Paton JFR; Lonergan T; Deuchars J; James PE; Kasparov S Detection of angiotensin II mediated nitric oxide release within the nucleus of the solitary tract using electron-paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE-BASIC&CLINICAL 126 193-201, 2006
DOI:10.1016/j.autneu.2006.02.016
Brooke RE; Atkinson L; Edwards I; Parson SH; Deuchars J Immunohistochemical localisation of the voltage gated potassium ion channel subunit Kv3.3 in the rat medulla oblongata and thoracic spinal cord BRAIN RESEARCH 1070 101-115, 2006
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.10.102
Ashour F; Atterbury-Thomas M; Deuchars J; Evans RJ An evaluation of antibody detection of the P2X(1) receptor subunit in the CNS of wild type and P2X(1)-knockout mice NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS 397 120-125, 2006
DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2005.12.004
Milligan CJ; Edwards IJ; Deuchars J HCN1 ion channel immunoreactivity in spinal cord and medulla oblongata BRAIN RESEARCH 1081 79-91, 2006
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2006.01.019
Bruce AW; Krejci A; Ooi L; Deuchars J; Wood IC; Dolezal V; Buckley NJ The transcriptional repressor REST is a critical regulator of the neurosecretory phenotype JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY 98 1828-1840, 2006
DOI:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.04010.x
Moores TS; Hasdemir B; Vega-Riveroll L; Deuchars J; Parson SH Properties of presynaptic P2X(7)-like receptors at the neuromuscular junction BRAIN RESEARCH 1034 40-50, 2005
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2004.12.001
Deuchars SA; Milligan CJ; Stornetta RL; Deuchars J GABAergic neurons in the central region of the spinal cord: A novel substrate for sympathetic inhibition JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 25 1063-1070, 2005
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3740-04.2005
Baxter RL; Vega-Riveroll LJ; Deuchars J; Parson SH A2A adenosine receptors are located on presynaptic motor nerve terminals in the mouse. Synapse 57 229-234, 2005
DOI:10.1002/syn.20173
Sun YM; Greenway DJ; Johnson R; Street M; Belyaev ND; Deuchars J; Bee T; Wilde S; Buckley NJ Distinct profiles of REST interactions with its target genes at different stages of neuronal development. Mol Biol Cell 16 5630-5638, 2005
DOI:10.1091/mbc.E05-07-0687
Dallas M; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J Immunopharmacology - Antibodies for specific modulation of proteins involved in neuronal function JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS 146 133-148, 2005
DOI:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2005.04.015
Governo RJM; Deuchars J; Baldwin SA; King AE Localization of the NBMPR-sensitive equilibrative nucleoside transporter, ENT1, in the rat dorsal root ganglion and lumbar spinal cord BRAIN RESEARCH 1059 129-138, 2005
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.08.017
Dallas ML; Atkinson L; Milligan CJ; Morris NP; Lewis DI; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J Localization and function of the Kv3.1b subunit in the rat medulla oblongata: focus on the nucleus tractus solitarii JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON 562 655-672, 2005
DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2004.073338
Corbett EKA; Sinfield JK; McWilliam PN; Deuchars J; Batten TFC Differential expression of vesicular glutamate transporters by vagal afferent terminals in rat nucleus of the solitary tract: Projections from the heart preferentially express vesicular glutamate transporter 1 NEUROSCIENCE 135 133-145, 2005
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.06.010
Brooke RE; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA Input-specific modulation of neurotransmitter release in the lateral horn of the spinal cord via adenosine receptors JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 24 127-137, 2004
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4591-03.2004
Milligan CJ; Buckley NJ; Garret M; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA Evidence for inhibition mediated by coassembly of GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptor subunits in native central neurons JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 24 7241-7250, 2004
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1979-04.2004
Williams BP; Milligan CJ; Street M; Hornby FM; Deuchars J; Buckley NJ Transcription of the M1 muscarinic receptor gene in neurons and neuronal progenitors of the embryonic rat forebrain JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY 88 70-77, 2004
DOI:10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.02117.x
Ashour F; Deuchars J Electron microscopic localisation of P2X(4) receptor subunit immunoreactivity to pre- and post-synaptic neuronal elements and glial processes in the dorsal vagal complex of the rat BRAIN RESEARCH 1026 44-55, 2004
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2004.08.002
Brooke RE; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA Input-Specific Modulation of Neurotransmitter Release in the Lateral Horn of the Spinal Cord via Adenosine Receptors Journal of Neuroscience 24 127-137, 2004
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4591-03.2004
Brooke RE; Moores TS; Morris NP; Parson SH; Deuchars J Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels regulate neurotransmitter release from mouse motor nerve terminals European Journal of Neuroscience 20 3313-3321, 2004
Brooke RE; Moores TS; Morris NP; Parson SH; Deuchars J Kv3 voltage-gated potassium channels regulate neurotransmitter release from mouse motor nerve terminals EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 20 3313-3321, 2004
DOI:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2004.03730.x
Atkinson L; Batten TFC; Moores TS; Varocqui H; Erickson JD; Deuchars J Differential co-localisation of the P2X(7) receptor subunit with vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 in rat CNS NEUROSCIENCE 123 761-768, 2004
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.08.065
Brooke RE; Atkinson L; Batten TFC; Deuchars SA; Deuchars J Association of potassium channel Kv3.4 subunits with pre- and post-synaptic structures in brainstem and spinal cord NEUROSCIENCE 126 1001-1010, 2004
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.03.051
Corbett EKA; Saha S; Deuchars J; McWilliam PN; Batten TFC Ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit immunoreactivity of vagal preganglionic neurones projecting to the rat heart AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE-BASIC&CLINICAL 105 105-117, 2003
DOI:10.1016/S1566-0702(03)00047-X
Atkinson L; Batten TFC; Corbett EKA; Sinfield JK; Deuchars J Subcellular localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract in relation to vagal afferent inputs NEUROSCIENCE 118 115-122, 2003
DOI:10.1016/S0306-4522(02)00946-6
Charles KJ; Deuchars J; Davies CH; Pangalos MN GABA(B) receptor subunit expression in glia MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE 24 214-223, 2003
DOI:10.1016/S1044-7431(03)00162-3
Atkinson L; Shigetomi E; Kato F; Deuchars J Differential increases in P2X receptor levels in rat vagal efferent neurones following a vagal nerve section BRAIN RESEARCH 977 112-118, 2003
DOI:10.1016/S0006-8993(03)02797-5
Ahmad Z; Milligan CJ; Paton JFR; Deuchars J Angiotensin type 1 receptor immunoreactivity in the thoracic spinal cord BRAIN RESEARCH 985 21-31, 2003
DOI:10.1016/S0006-8993(03)03112-3
Gourine AV; Atkinson L; Deuchars J; Spyer KM Purinergic signalling in the medullary mechanisms of respiratory control in the rat: respiratory neurones express the P2X(2) receptor subunit JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON 552 197-211, 2003
DOI:10.1113/jphysiol.2003.045294
Sperlagh B; Kofalvi A; Deuchars J; Atkinson L; Milligan CJ; Buckley NJ; Vizi ES Involvement of P2X(7) receptors in the regulation of neurotransmitter release in the rat hippocampus JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY 81 1196-1211, 2002
DOI:10.1046/j.1471-4159.2002.00920.x
Parson SH; Cato KJ; Moores TS; Deuchars J Properties of P2X7 receptors at mammalian motor nerve terminals. Journal of Physiology 544 pp.73-, 2002
Atkinson L; Milligan CJ; Buckley NJ; Deuchars J Purinergic receptors: An ATP-gated ion channel at the cell nucleus Nature 420 42-42, 2002
Brooke RE; Pyner S; McLeish P; Buchan S; Deuchars J; Deuchars SA Spinal cord interneurones labelled transneuronally from the adrenal gland by a GFP-herpes virus construct contain the potassium channel subunit Kv3.1b AUTONOMIC NEUROSCIENCE-BASIC&CLINICAL 98 45-50, 2002
DOI:10.1016/S1566-0702(02)00030-9
Atkinson L; Milligan CJ; Buckley NJ; Deuchars J An ATP-gated ion channel at the cell nucleus. Nature 420 42-42, 2002
Deuchars SA; Brooke RE; Deuchars J Adenosine A1 receptors reduce release from excitatory but not inhibitory synaptic inputs onto lateral horn neurons JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 21 6308-6320, 2001
Deuchars SA; Brooke RE; Frater B; Deuchars J Properties of interneurones in the intermediolateral cell column of the rat spinal cord: Role of the potassium channel subunit Kv3.1 NEUROSCIENCE 106 433-446, 2001
DOI:10.1016/S0306-4522(01)00277-9
Milligan CJ; Buckley NJ; Deuchars J Expression of the GABA(c) receptor rho 1-subunit in neurones and glia ofthe medulla oblongata of the adult rat Journal of Physiology 536 22-23, 2001
Paton JFR; Deuchars J; Ahmad Z; Wong LF; Murphy D; Kasparov S Adenoviral vector demonstrates that angiotensin II-induced depression of the cardiac baroreflex is mediated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the rat JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON 531 445-458, 2001
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-7793.2001.0445i.x
Deuchars SA; Atkinson L; Brooke RE; Musa H; Milligan CJ; Batten TFC; Buckley NJ; Parson SH; Deuchars J Neuronal P2X(7) receptors are targeted to presynaptic terminals in the central and peripheral nervous systems JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE 21 7143-7152, 2001
Paton JFR; Deuchars J; Li YW; Kasparov S Properties of solitary tract neurones responding to peripheral arterial chemoreceptors NEUROSCIENCE 105 231-248, 2001
DOI:10.1016/S0306-4522(01)00106-3
Batten TFC; Atkinson L; Deuchars J Nitric oxide systems in the medulla oblongata and their involvement in autonomic control. l, 2000
Deuchars J Does the head rule the heart? Trends in Neurosciences 23 pp.449-, 2000
Atkinson L; Batten TFC; Deuchars J P2X2 receptor immunoreactivity in the dorsal vagal complex and area postrema of the rat Neuroscience 99 683-696, 2000
Deuchars J; Li YW; Kasparov S; Paton JFR Morphological and electrophysiological properties of neurones in the dorsal vagal complex of the rat activated by arterial baroreceptors. Journal of Comparative Neurology 417 233-249, 2000
Deuchars J Nerves - the silent but strong type. Trends in Neurosciences 23 pp.333-, 2000
Thomson AM; Deuchars J Synaptic interactions in neocortical local circuits: dual intercellular recordings in vitro. Cerebral Cortex 7 510-522, 1997
Thomson AM; West DC; Hahn J; Deuchars J Single axon IPSPs elicited in pyramidal cells by three classes of interneurones in slices of rat neocortex. Journal of Physiology 496 (Pt. 1) 81-102, 1996
Deuchars J; Thomson AM CAI pyramid-pyramid connections in rat hippocampus in vitro: dual intracellular recordings with biocytin filling Neuroscience 74(4) 1009-1018, 1996
