Professor James Deuchars

BSc, Glasgow; PhD, London.
Professor of Systems Neuroscience
Institute of Membrane and Systems Biology

Office: Garstang G5.53g
Phone: +44(0) 113 34 35594
Email: email address for Professor James Deuchars 

Centre membership:

Lab: A member of the Deuchars_J group

Publications

List Professor Deuchars's Publications


Research Interests

How the central nervous system controls the cardiovascular system

An ATP receptor in a CNS neurone. The ATP receptor (P2X2) was detected immunohistochemically (shown in red) while neurones projecting to the vagus nerve were labelled retrogradely with the tracer Fluorogold (shown in blue). The P2X2 receptor appears to ring the membrane of the labelled neurone.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

Principal interests:

  • How the central nervous system controls the cardiovascular system

Postgraduate studentship areas:

  • The role of the central nervous system in control of blood pressure.

See also: