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Contact Details

Email
phil.sheard@otago.ac.nz
Position
Associate Professor, Deputy HoD (Teaching)
Department
Department of Physiology
Qualifications
BSc PGDipSc (Otago) PhD (W Aust)
Research summary
Development, structure, function and ageing of neuromuscular systems

Research

Sarcopenia - age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

Sarcopenia is the widely described phenomenon of age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. The functional impairments that arise from progressive weakness have profound implications for the elderly, and therefore for modern society. Sarcopenia manifests as a death of muscle fibers and decrease in cross sectional area of surviving fibers, the triggers for this progressive loss of muscle remain largely unknown.

We are particularly interested in the role the motor nerve terminal may play in driving sarcopenia, since progressive withdrawal of the motor nerve from the muscle fibre also seems to be a conspicuous feature of elderly muscle. We are currently examining age-related changes to the neuromuscular junction with a view to using this information to establish whether motor nerve withdrawal is a cause of muscle fibre death, or a consequence of it.

Publications

Peeters, W. M., Gram, M., Dias, G. J., Vissers, M. C. M., Hampton, M. B., Dickerhof, N., Bekhit, A. E., … Bayer, S., … Sheard, P. W., Danielson, K. M., … Cornwall, J., & Rowlands, D. S. (2023). Changes to insulin sensitivity in glucose clearance systems and redox following dietary supplementation with a novel cysteine-rich protein: A pilot randomized controlled trial in humans with type-2 diabetes. Redox Biology, 67, 102918. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102918

Redmond, A. K., Davies, T. M., Schofield, M. R., & Sheard, P. W. (2023). New tools for the investigation of muscle fiber-type spatial distributions across histological sections. Skeletal Muscle, 13, 7. doi: 10.1186/s13395-023-00316-0

Lal, N. N., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. W. (2023). Use of a novel technique to assess impact of age-related denervation on mouse soleus muscle function. Biogerontology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10522-023-10021-6

Lal, N. N., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. W. (2021). Age-related structural changes show that loss of fibers is not a significant contributor to muscle atrophy in old mice. Experimental Gerontology, 156, 111618. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111618

Gillon, A., Steel, C., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. (2020). Increased nuclear permeability is a driver for age-related motoneuron loss. GeroScience, 42, 833-847. doi: 10.1007/s11357-020-00155-7

Sayer, R. J., Bray, J. J., Mills, R. G., & Sheard, P. W. (1999). Introduction to the Nervous System. In J. J. Bray, P. A. Cragg, A. D. C. Macknight & R. G. Mills (Eds.), Lecture Notes on Human Physiology. (pp. 39-64). London: Blackwell Science.

Chapter in Book - Research

Lal, N. N., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. W. (2023). Use of a novel technique to assess impact of age-related denervation on mouse soleus muscle function. Biogerontology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10522-023-10021-6

Journal - Research Article

Peeters, W. M., Gram, M., Dias, G. J., Vissers, M. C. M., Hampton, M. B., Dickerhof, N., Bekhit, A. E., … Bayer, S., … Sheard, P. W., Danielson, K. M., … Cornwall, J., & Rowlands, D. S. (2023). Changes to insulin sensitivity in glucose clearance systems and redox following dietary supplementation with a novel cysteine-rich protein: A pilot randomized controlled trial in humans with type-2 diabetes. Redox Biology, 67, 102918. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102918

Journal - Research Article

Redmond, A. K., Davies, T. M., Schofield, M. R., & Sheard, P. W. (2023). New tools for the investigation of muscle fiber-type spatial distributions across histological sections. Skeletal Muscle, 13, 7. doi: 10.1186/s13395-023-00316-0

Journal - Research Article

Lal, N. N., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. W. (2021). Age-related structural changes show that loss of fibers is not a significant contributor to muscle atrophy in old mice. Experimental Gerontology, 156, 111618. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111618

Journal - Research Article

Gillon, A., Steel, C., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. (2020). Increased nuclear permeability is a driver for age-related motoneuron loss. GeroScience, 42, 833-847. doi: 10.1007/s11357-020-00155-7

Journal - Research Article

Davies, T. M., Schofield, M. R., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. W. (2019). Modelling multilevel spatial behaviour in binary-mark muscle fibre configurations. Annals of Applied Statistics, 13(3), 1329-1347. doi: 10.1214/18-AOAS1214

Journal - Research Article

Gillon, A., Nielsen, K., Steel, C., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. (2018). Exercise attenuates age-associated changes in motoneuron number, nucleocytoplasmic transport proteins and neuromuscular health. GeroScience, 40, 177-192. doi: 10.1007/s11357-018-0020-4

Journal - Research Article

Nielsen, K. B., Lal, N. N., & Sheard, P. W. (2018). Age-related remodelling of the myotendinous junction in the mouse soleus muscle. Experimental Gerontology, 104, 52-59. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2018.01.021

Journal - Research Article

Tan, C. L., Sheard, P. W., & Jasoni, C. L. (2018). Developing neurites from mouse basal forebrain gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons use Sonic hedgehog to modulate their growth. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 68, 89-97. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.05.005

Journal - Research Article

Hennebry, A., Oldham, J., Shavlakadze, T., Grounds, M. D., Sheard, P., Fiorotto, M. L., … McMahon, C. D. (2017). IGF1 stimulates greater muscle hypertrophy in the absence of myostatin in male mice. Journal of Endocrinology, 234(2), 187-200. doi: 10.1530/joe-17-0032

Journal - Research Article

Cornwall, J., Farrell, S. F., & Sheard, P. W. (2016). Fibre types of human suboccipital muscles. European Journal of Anatomy, 20(1), 31-36.

Journal - Research Article

White, Z., Terrill, J., White, R. B., McMahon, C., Sheard, P., Grounds, M. D., & Shavlakadze, T. (2016). Voluntary resistance wheel exercise from mid-life prevents sarcopenia and increases markers of mitochondrial function and autophagy in muscles of old male and female C57BL/6J mice. Skeletal Muscle, 6(1), 45. doi: 10.1186/s13395-016-0117-3

Journal - Research Article

Gillon, A., & Sheard, P. (2015). Elderly mouse skeletal muscle fibres have a diminished capacity to upregulate NCAM production in response to denervation. Biogerontology, 16(6), 811-823. doi: 10.1007/s10522-015-9608-6

Journal - Research Article

Lal, N., & Sheard, P. (2015). Dying myofibers in elderly mouse skeletal muscles are characterized by the appearance of dystrophin-encircled vacuoles. Biogerontology, 16, 443-459. doi: 10.1007/s10522-015-9565-0

Journal - Research Article

Thaung, H. P. A., Baldi, J. C., Wang, H.-Y., Hughes, G., Cook, R. F., Bussey, C. T., Sheard, P. W., Bahn, A., Jones, P. P., Schwenke, D. O., & Lamberts, R. R. (2015). Increased efferent cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and defective intrinsic heart rate regulation in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes, 64(8), 2944-2956. doi: 10.2337/db14-0955

Journal - Research Article

Hellyer, S. D., Selwood, A. I., van Ginkel, R., Munday, R., Sheard, P., Miles, C. O., … Kerr, D. S. (2014). In vitro labelling of muscle type nicotinic receptors using a fluorophore-conjugated pinnatoxin F derivative. Toxicon, 87, 17-25. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.05.013

Journal - Research Article

McMahon, C. D., Chai, R., Radley-Crabb, H. G., Watson, T., Matthews, K. G., Sheard, P. W., … Shavlakadze, T. (2014). Lifelong exercise and locally produced insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) have a modest influence on reducing age-related muscle wasting in mice. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 24(6), e423-e435. doi: 10.1111/sms.12200

Journal - Research Article

Rowlands, D. S., Page, R. A., Sukala, W. R., Giri, M., Ghimbovschi, S. D., Hayat, I., … Leikis, M., Sheard, P. W., Wakefield, St. J., … Krebs, J., … Hoffman, E. P. (2014). Multi-omic integrated networks connect DNA methylation and miRNA with skeletal muscle plasticity to chronic exercise in Type 2 diabetic obesity. Physiological Genomics, 46(20), 747-765. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00024.2014

Journal - Research Article

Davies, T. M., Cornwall, J., & Sheard, P. W. (2013). Modelling dichotomously marked muscle fibre configurations. Statistics in Medicine, 32(24), 4240-4258. doi: 10.1002/sim.5806

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., & Anderson, R. D. (2012). Age-related loss of muscle fibres is highly variable amongst mouse skeletal muscles. Biogerontology, 13(2), 157-167. doi: 10.1007/s10522-011-9365-0

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., Bewick, G. S., Woolley, A. G., Shaw, J., Fisher, L., Fong, S. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2010). Investigation of neuromuscular abnormalities in neurotrophin-3-deficient mice. European Journal of Neuroscience, 31(1), 29-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.07032.x

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A. G., Tait, K. J., Hurren, B. J., Fisher, L., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2008). Developmental loss of NT-3 in vivo results in reduced levels of myelin-specific proteins, a reduced extent of myelination and increased apoptosis of Schwann cells. GLIA, 56(3), 306-317. doi: 10.1002/glia.20614

Journal - Research Article

Li, C., Stanton, J.-A. L., Robertson, T. M., Suttie, J. M., Sheard, P. W., Harris, A. J., & Clark, D. E. (2007). Nerve growth factor mRNA expression in the regenerating antler tip of red deer (Cervus elaphus). PLoS ONE, 2(1), e148. Retrieved from http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0000148

Journal - Research Article

Homer, C., Knight, D. A., Hananeia, L., Sheard, P., Risk, J., Lasham, A., Royds, J. A., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2005). Y-box factor YB1 controls p53 apoptotic function. Oncogene, 24, 8314-8325. Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/onc/journal/v24/n56/abs/1208998a.html

Journal - Research Article

Sun, C.-K., Zhang, X.-Y., Sheard, P. W., Mabuchi, A., & Wheatley, A. M. (2005). Change in mitochondrial membrane potential is the key mechanism in early warm hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Microvascular Research, 70, 102-110.

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A. G., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2005). Neurotrophin-3 null mutant mice display a postnatal motor neuropathy. European Journal of Neuroscience, 21, 2100-2110.

Journal - Research Article

Mabuchi, A., Mullaney, I., Sheard, P. W., Hessian, P. A., Mallard, B. L., Tawadrous, M. N., … Wheatley, A. M. (2004). Role of hepatic stellate cell/hepatocyte interaction and activation of hepatic stellate cells in the early phase of liver regeneration in the rat. Journal of Hepatology, 40, 910-916.

Journal - Research Article

Mabuchi, A., Mullaney, I., Sheard, P., Hessian, P., Zimmermann, A., Senoo, H., & Wheatley, A. M. (2004). Role of hepatic stellate cells in the early phase of liver regeneration in rat: Formation of tight adhesion to parenchymal cells. Comparative Hepatology, 3(Suppl. 1), S29.

Journal - Research Article

Paul, A. C., Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (2004). Development of a mammalian series-fibered muscle. Anatomical Record Part A, 278A, 571-578. doi: 10.1002/ar.a.20020

Journal - Research Article

Maclennan, K. M., Zheng, Y., Sheard, P. W., Williams, S. M., Darlington, C. L., & Smith, P. F. (2003). Adrenalectomy-induced cell death in the dentate gyrus: Further characterisation using TUNEL and effects of the Ginkgo biloba extract, EGb 761 and ginkgolide B. Hippocampus, 13, 212-225.

Journal - Research Article

Zhang, Y.-F., Homer, C., Edwards, S. J., Hananeia, L., Lasham, A., Royds, J., Sheard, P., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2003). Nuclear localization of Y-box factor YB1 requires wild-type p53. Oncogene, 22, 2782-2794. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1206357

Journal - Research Article

Paul, A. C., Sheard, P. W., Kaufman, S. J., & Duxson, M. J. (2002). Localization of α7 integrins and dystrophin suggests potential for both lateral and longitudinal transmission of tension in large mammalian muscles. Cell & Tissue Research, 308, 255-265.

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., Musaad, K., & Duxson, M. J. (2002). Distribution of neurotrophin receptors in the mouse neuromuscular system. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 46, 569-575.

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., Paul, A., & Duxson, M. J. (2002). Intramuscular force transmission. Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology, 508, 495-499.

Journal - Research Article

Scarlett, J. L., Sheard, P. W., Hughes, G., Ledgerwood, E. C., Ku, H.-H., & Murphy, M. P. (2000). Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential during staurosporine-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells. FEBS Letters, 475, 267-272.

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W. (2000). Tension delivery from short fibers in long muscles. Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews, 28(2), 51-56.

Journal - Research Article

Young, M., Paul, A., Rodda, J., Duxson, M. J., & Sheard, P. W. (2000). Examination of intrafascicular muscle fiber terminations: Implications for tension delivery in series-fibered muscles. Journal of Morphology, 245, 130-145.

Journal - Research Article

James, A. M., Sheard, P. W., Wei, Y.-H., & Murphy, M. P. (1999). Decreased ATP synthesis is phenotypically expressed during increased energy demand in fibroblasts containing mitochondrial tRNA mutations: Implications for neurodegenerative and mitochondrial DNA diseases. European Journal of Biochemistry, 259, 462-469.

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., McHannigan, P., & Duxson, M. J. (1999). Single and paired motor unit performance in skeletal muscles: Comparison between simple and series-fibred muscles from the rat and the guinea pig. Basic & Applied Myology, 9(2), 79-87.

Journal - Research Article

Woolley, A., Sheard, P. W., Dodds, K. G., & Duxson, M. J. (1999). Alpha motoneurons are present in normal numbers but with reduced soma size in neurotrophin-3 knockout mice. Neuroscience Letters, 272, 107-110.

Journal - Research Article

Porteous, W. K., James, A. M., Sheard, P. W., Porteous, C., Packer, M., Hyslop, S. J., Melton, J. V., … Murphy, M. P. (1998). Bioenergetic consequences of accumulating the common 4977-bp mitochondrial DNA deletion. European Journal of Biochemistry, 257, 192-201.

Journal - Research Article

Beazley, L. D., Sheard, P. W., Tennant, M., Starac, D., & Dunlop, S. A. (1997). Optic nerve regenerates but does not restore topographic projections in the lizard Ctenophorus ornatus. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 377(1), 105-120.

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (1997). The transient existence of "en passant" nerve terminals in normal embryonic rat skeletal muscle. Developmental Brain Research, 98(2), 259-264. doi: 10.1016/S0165-3806(96)00184-8

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., Oettli, H. E., Johnson, A. J., & Duxson, M. J. (1997). Variations in oxidative enzyme type profiles among prenatal rat lumbar motoneurons. Developmental Brain Research, 103(1), 67-75. doi: 10.1016/S0165-3806(97)00118-1

Journal - Research Article

Sheard, P. W., & Duxson, M. J. (1996). Composition of newly forming motor units in prenatal rat intercostal muscle. Developmental Dynamics, 205, 196-212.

Journal - Research Article

Duxson, M. J., & Sheard, P. W. (1995). Formation of new myotubes occurs exclusively at the multiple innervation zones of an embryonic large muscle. Developmental Dynamics, 204, 391-405.

Journal - Research Article

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