Innervation of Human Axillary Sweat Glands: Histochemical and Electron Microscopic Study of Hyperhidrotic and Normal Subjects

Abstract

Adrenergic nerves were demonstrated by formaldehyde-induced fluorescence and cholinergic nerves using thiocholine techniques to demonstrate acetylcholinesterase activities at the light microscopic and EM levels. The specimens were taken during surgery from the axillae of hyperhidrotic patients and normal voluntary controls. No fluorescent nerves were found around eccrine or apocrine sweat glands in hyperhidrotic or normally sweating axillae. Both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands exhibited a nerve network showing acetylcholinesterase activity. There was no marked difference in the innervation patterns or in the intensity of the acetylcholinesterase reaction of the nerves in the hyperhidrotic patients or normal subjects. Ultrastructurally the acetylcholinesterase-positive nerves were seen in the vicinity of both eccrine and apocrine glands, but these nerves were outside the basement membrane.