Associate Professor Stewart Head | Brain Sciences UNSW

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Main

University role:

Conjoint Associate Professor

Phone:

+61 2 9385 2555

Email:

s.head@unsw.edu.au

Over the last 22 years Dr Head’s research has been in the general area of skeletal muscle physiology. In particular his interest has been in the area of the muscular dystrophies and studying the role of [Ca2+]i in the physiology and pathophysiology of skeletal muscle. Dr Head’s laboratory has also performed substantial work on dystrophic mdx mouse cerebellum dysfunction. Dystrophin, the protein missing in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is also normally expressed in the brain. His group demonstrated that dystrophin functions to cluster GABAA receptors at the post synaptic density of Purkinje neurons and in its absence that amplitude of inhibitory GABA currents is reduced by 50%, additionally; there is a 50% blunting of the Long Term Depression response at the parallel fibre/Purkinje synapse.

THE GENE FOR SPEED:- Dr Head has been involved in research into the role of skeletal muscle Z line cytoskeletal protein alpha-actinin-3 since. The gene encoding this protein is colloquially termed the “gene for speed”. The understanding of the consequences for skeletal muscle function of an absence of α-actinin-3, both in athletes and the general population, is of global importance given the mutation is present in more than 1 billion people worldwide. To date Dr Head has analysed the basic contractile properties of α-actinin-3 deficient muscle demonstrating that in some aspects the mutant fast-twitch muscle behaves like a slow-twitch muscle, relaxing and fatiguing more slowly than its wild-type counterpart and also that the mutation renders fast-twitch muscle fibres cold acclimatised and pre-endurances trained; which may explain the positive selection pressures on the mutation over the last 100,000 years of human evolution.

SUMMARY OF RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS:- Between 1990 and 1993 Dr Head was among the first researchers to investigate the [Ca2+ ]i handling and electrophysiological properties of two muscular dystrophies which lacked the cytoskeleton proteins laminin α-2 and dystrophin, respectively. These papers are still cited in current reviews on contractile properties and [Ca2+]i handling in muscular dystrophies. More recently Dr Heads has continued his research into contractile and calcium deficiencies which result when cytoskeletal proteins are absent from excitable cells Dr Head’s research group has been invited to talk and participate at international conferences in Paris (France) and Philadelphia (USA) to present on the role played by the cytoskeletal protein “dystrophin” in [Ca2+]i handling of neural tissues and contractile properties of skeletal muscle. As a further recognition of Dr Head’s international standing in this research area of cellular [Ca2+]i regulation and contractile properties of muscle cells, he was appointed to a Visiting Professorship at the University of Liverpool UK (During 2006) . Dr Head has supervised 8 PhD students.

Research

Research Activity Links:

The effects of α-actinin-3 on muscle metabolism, human health and disease

Field of Research (FOR) Tag:

Animal Physiology - Cell

Animal Physiology - Biophysics

Animal Neurobiology

Socio-economic Objective (SEO) tags:

Biological sciences

Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences

Publications related to this Person

Book Chapters

Friedrich O; Head SI, 2017, 'Quantitative ratiometric Ca ²⁺ imaging to assess cell viability', in Methods in Molecular Biology, pp. 171 - 193, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6960-9_14

Head S; Anderson JL; Morley JW, 2012, 'Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Brain Function', in Hegde M; Ankala A (ed.), Muscular Dystrophy, InTech, Croatia, pp. 91 - 121, http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/24928

Head S, 2012, 'A Two Stage Model of Skeletal Muscle Necrosis in Muscular Dystrophy - The Role of Fiber Branching in the Terminal Stage', in Hegde M; Ankala A (ed.), Muscular Dystrophy, INTECH, Croatia, pp. 475 - 498, http://www.intechopen.com/books/muscular-dystrophy

Journal articles

Head SI; Chan S; Houweling PJ; Quinlan KGR; Murphy R; Wagner S; Friedrich O; North KN, 2015, 'Altered Ca ²⁺ Kinetics Associated with α-Actinin-3 Deficiency May Explain Positive Selection for ACTN3 Null Allele in Human Evolution', PLoS Genetics, vol. 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1004862

Yu ZY; Tan JC; McMahon AC; Iismaa SE; Xiao H; Kesteven SH; Reichelt ME; Mohl MC; Smith NJ; Fatkin D, 2014, 'RhoA/ROCK signaling and pleiotropic α 1A -adrenergic receptor regulation of cardiac contractility', PLoS ONE, vol. 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0099024

Head SI; Houweling PJ; Chan S; Chen G; Hardeman EC, 2014, 'Properties of regenerated mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle following notexin injury', Experimental Physiology, vol. 99, pp. 664 - 674, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2013.077289

Head SI; Arber MB, 2013, 'An active learning mammalian skeletal muscle lab demonstrating contractile and kinetic properties of fast- and slow-twitch muscle', American Journal of Physiology - Advances in Physiology Education, vol. 37, pp. 405 - 414, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/advan.00155.2012

Head S, 2012, 'Does skeletal muscle fiber branching play a role in the inability of old EDL dystrophic muscle to resist large passive stretches?', Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 112, pp. 331, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01355.2011

Head SI; Ha TN, 2011, 'Acute inhibitory effects of clenbuterol on force, Ca 2+ transients and action potentials in rat soleus may not involve the β 2-adrenoceptor pathway', Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, vol. 38, pp. 638 - 646, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1681.2011.05574.x

Head SI, 2011, 'Old men still have the skeletal muscle contractile function to get up and go even after they have had their leg in a cast', Journal of Physiology, vol. 589, pp. 4639, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2011.218826

Seto JT; Lek M; Quinlan KGR; Houweling PJ; Zheng XF; Garton F; MacArthur DG; Raftery JM; Garvey SM; Hauser MA, 2011, 'Deficiency of α-actinin-3 is associated with increased susceptibility to contraction-induced damage and skeletal muscle remodeling', Human Molecular Genetics, vol. 20, pp. 2914 - 2927, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddr196

Nikolova-Krstevski V; Leimena C; Xiao XH; Kesteven S; Tan JC; Yeo LS; Yu ZY; Zhang Q; Carlton A; Head S, 2011, 'Nesprin-1 and actin contribute to nuclear and cytoskeletal defects in lamin A/C-deficient cardiomyopathy', Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, vol. 50, pp. 479 - 486, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2010.12.001

Kueh SLL; Dempster J; Head SI; Morley JW, 2011, 'Reduced postsynaptic GABAA receptor number and enhanced gaboxadol induced change in holding currents in Purkinje cells of the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse', Neurobiology of Disease, vol. 43, pp. 558 - 564, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2011.05.002

Chan S; Seto JT; Houweling PJ; Yang N; North KN; Head SI, 2011, 'Properties of extensor digitorum longus muscle and skinned fibers from adult and aged male and female ACTN3 knockout mice', Muscle and Nerve, vol. 43, pp. 37 - 48, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mus.21778

Chan S; Head SI, 2011, 'The role of branched fibres in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy', Experimental Physiology, vol. 96, pp. 564 - 571, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2010.056713

Head SI; Greenaway B; Chan S, 2011, 'Incubating isolated mouse EDL muscles with creatine improves force production and twitch kinetics in fatigue due to reduction in ionic strength', PLoS ONE, vol. 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0022742

Head SI, 2010, 'Branched fibres in old dystrophic mdx muscle are associated with mechanical weakening of the sarcolemma, abnormal Ca2+ transients and a breakdown of Ca2+ homeostasis during fatigue', Experimental Physiology, vol. 95, pp. 641 - 656, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2009.052019

Anderson JL; Morley JW; Head SI, 2010, 'Enhanced homosynaptic LTD in cerebellar Purkinje cells of the dystrophic mdx mouse', Muscle and Nerve, vol. 41, pp. 329 - 334, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mus.21467

Chan S; Head SI, 2010, 'Age- and gender-related changes in contractile properties of non-atrophied EDL muscle', PLoS ONE, vol. 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012345

Kueh SLL; Head SI; Morley JW, 2008, 'GABAA receptor expression and inhibitory post-synaptic currents in cerebellar Purkinje cells in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice', Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, vol. 35, pp. 207 - 210, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1681.2007.04816.x

Macarthur DG; Seto JT; Chan S; Quinlan KGR; Raftery JM; Turner N; Nicholson MD; Kee AJ; Hardeman EC; Gunning PW, 2008, 'An Actn3 knockout mouse provides mechanistic insights into the association between α-actinin-3 deficiency and human athletic performance', Human Molecular Genetics, vol. 17, pp. 1076 - 1086, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddm380

Chan S; Seto JT; MacArthur DG; Yang N; North KN; Head SI, 2008, 'A gene for speed: Contractile properties of isolated whole EDL muscle from an α-actinin-3 knockout mouse', American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, vol. 295, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00179.2008

Chan S; Head SI; Morley JW, 2007, 'Branched fibers in dystrophic mdx muscle are associated with a loss of force following lengthening contractions', American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, vol. 293, http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00128.2007

Bakker AJ; Parkinson AL; Head SI, 2005, 'Contractile properties of single-skinned skeletal muscle fibres of the extensor digitorum longus muscle of the Australian short-nosed echidna', Australian Journal of Zoology, vol. 53, pp. 237 - 240, http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO05011

Anderson JL; Head SI; Morley JW, 2005, 'Synaptic plasticity in the dy^2J mouse model of laminin α2-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy', Brain Research, vol. 1042, pp. 23 - 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2005.02.001

Head SI; Bakker AJ; Liangas G, 2004, 'EDL and soleus muscles of the C57BL6J/dy2j laminin-α 2-deficient dystrophic mouse are not vulnerable to eccentric contractions', Experimental Physiology, vol. 89, pp. 531 - 539, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2004.027383

Anderson JL; Head SI; Morley JW, 2004, 'Long-term depression is reduced in cerebellar Purkinje cells of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice', Brain Research, vol. 1019, pp. 289 - 292, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2004.06.011

Burrell JH; Boyn AM; Kumarasamy V; Hsieh A; Head SI; Lumbers ER, 2003, 'Growth and Maturation of Cardiac Myocytes in Fetal Sheep in the Second Half of Gestation', Anatomical Record - Part A Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology, vol. 274, pp. 952 - 961, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.a.10110

Yeung EW; Head SI; Allen DG, 2003, 'Gadolinium reduces short-term stretch-induced muscle damage in isolated mdx mouse muscle fibres', Journal of Physiology, vol. 552, pp. 449 - 458, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2003.047373

Rae C; Griffin JL; Blair DH; Bothwell JH; Bubb WA; Maitland A; Head S, 2002, 'Abnormalities in brain biochemistry associated with lack of dystrophin: Studies of the mdx mouse', Neuromuscular Disorders, vol. 12, pp. 121 - 129, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8966(01)00253-X

Anderson JL; Head SI; Rae C; Morley JW, 2002, 'Brain function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy', Brain, vol. 125, pp. 4 - 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awf012

Blazev R; Hussain M; Bakker AJ; Head SI; Lamb GD, 2001, 'Effects of the PKA inhibitor H-89 on excitation-contraction coupling in skinned and intact skeletal muscle fibres.', J Muscle Res Cell Motil, vol. 22, pp. 277 - 286, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11763200

Parkinson AL; Bakker AJ; Head SI, 2001, 'Morphology and organization of muscle fibres in the thoracic coxal muscle receptor organ and the associated promotor muscle, in a crayfish, Cherax destructor, and mud crab, Scylla serrata', Acta Zoologica, vol. 82, pp. 251 - 260, http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1463-6395.2001.00088.x

Anderson JL; Williams G; Head SI, 2001, 'The role of nitric oxide in diaphragmatic dysfunction in endotoxemic rats', Muscle and Nerve, vol. 24, pp. 30 - 36, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/1097-4598(200101)24:1<30::AID-MUS3>3.0.CO;2-W

Parkinson AL; Bakker AJ; Head SI, 2000, 'Ca²⁺- and Sr²⁺-activation properties of muscle fibres from a muscle receptor organ and the associated extrafusal muscle of the crab and crayfish', Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, vol. 21, pp. 663 - 671, http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005656528208

Bakker AJ; Head SI; Wareham AC; Stephenson DG, 1998, 'Effect of clenbuterol on sarcoplasmic reticulum function in single skinned mammalian skeletal muscle fibers', AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 274, pp. C1718 - C1726, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000073901500032&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

Bakker AJ; Head SI; Wareham AC; Stephenson DG, 1998, 'Effect of clenbuterol on sarcoplasmic reticulum function in single skinned mammalian skeletal muscle fibers', American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology, vol. 274

Hussain M; Bakker AJ; Head SI, 1997, 'Effects of protein kinase A (PKA) inhibition on excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in isolated fast-twitch mouse skeletal muscle.', JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, vol. 504P, pp. P233 - P233, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:A1997YJ42400315&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

Bakker AJ; Head SI; Stephenson DG, 1997, 'Time course of calcium transients derived from Fura-2 fluorescence measurements in single fast twitch fibres of adult mice and rat myotubes developing in primary culture', Cell Calcium, vol. 21, pp. 359 - 364, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0143-4160(97)90029-4

Bakker AJ; Head SI; Stephenson DG, 1996, 'Measurement of membrane potential and myoplasmic [Ca²⁺] in developing rat myotubes at rest and in response to stimulation', Cell Calcium, vol. 19, pp. 409 - 418, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0143-4160(96)90114-1

Hussain M; Wareham AC; Head SI, 1994, 'Mechanism of action of a K+ channel activator BRL 38227 on ATP-sensitive K+ channels in mouse skeletal muscle fibres.', J Physiol, vol. 478 Pt 3, pp. 523 - 532, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1994.sp020271

Head S; Williams D; Stephenson G, 1994, 'Increased susceptibility of EDL muscles from mdx mice to damage induced by contraction with stretch.', J Muscle Res Cell Motil, vol. 15, pp. 490 - 492, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7848493

Head S; Williams D; Stephenson G; Moens P; Baatsen P; Marechal G, 1994, 'Letter to the editor [2]', Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, vol. 15, pp. 490 - 491

Bordas J; Lewy J; Head S; Williams D; Stephenson G; Moens P; Baatsen P; Maréchal G, 1994, 'Correspondence', Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility, vol. 15, pp. 489 - 492, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00122122

Williams DA; Head SI; Lynch GS; Stephenson DG, 1993, 'Contractile properties of skinned muscle fibres from young and adult normal and dystrophic (mdx) mice.', J Physiol, vol. 460, pp. 51 - 67, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1993.sp019458

Bakker AJ; Head SI; Williams DA; Stephenson DG, 1993, 'Ca2+ levels in myotubes grown from the skeletal muscle of dystrophic (mdx) and normal mice.', J Physiol, vol. 460, pp. 1 - 13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1993.sp019455

Head SI, 1993, 'Membrane potential, resting calcium and calcium transients in isolated muscle fibres from normal and dystrophic mice.', The Journal of Physiology, vol. 469, pp. 11 - 19, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1993.sp019801

Head SI; Williams DA; Stephenson DG, 1992, 'Abnormalities in structure and function of limb skeletal muscle fibres of dystrophic mdx mice.', Proc Biol Sci, vol. 248, pp. 163 - 169, http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1992.0058

HEAD SI; BUSH BMH, 1992, 'PROPRIOCEPTIVE INPUT FROM 2 BASAL JOINT STRETCH RECEPTORS TO LEG MOTONEURONS IN THE ISOLATED THORACIC GANGLION OF THE SHORE CRAB', JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, vol. 163, pp. 187 - 208, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:A1992HG32000012&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

Head SI; Bush BM, 1991, 'Reflex actions of one proprioceptor on the motoneurones of a muscle receptor and their central modulation in the shore crab.', J Physiol, vol. 437, pp. 49 - 62, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1991.sp018582

HEAD SI; BUSH BMH, 1991, 'PROPRIOCEPTIVE REFLEX INTERACTIONS WITH CENTRAL MOTOR RHYTHMS IN THE ISOLATED THORACIC GANGLION OF THE SHORE CRAB', JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY, vol. 168, pp. 445 - 459, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00199604

Williams DA; Head SI; Bakker AJ; Stephenson DG, 1990, 'Resting calcium concentrations in isolated skeletal muscle fibres of dystrophic mice.', J Physiol, vol. 428, pp. 243 - 256, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1990.sp018210

Head SI; Stephenson DG; Williams DA, 1990, 'Properties of enzymatically isolated skeletal fibres from mice with muscular dystrophy.', J Physiol, vol. 422, pp. 351 - 367, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1990.sp017988

Chan S; Head SI, 'The role of branched fibres in the pathogenesis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy', Experimental Physiology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2010.056713

Conference Papers

Conference Abstracts

Wagner S; Chan S; Murphy R; Houweling PJ; Quinlan KGR; North KN; Head SI; Friedrich O, 2015, 'Speed of shortening is not altered in the alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) 'gene of speed' knock-out mutation in fast-twitch skeletal muscle', in ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Vol. 213, pp. 66 - 66, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000362554200139&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

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