Functional Activity of the Apocrine Sweat Gland in the Goat

Abstract

1. Functional activity of the apocrine sweat glands in the hairy skin of the goat was investigated. 2. Adrenaline and noradrenaline were always effective in eliciting local sweating, but isopropylnoradrenaline, ephedrine, acetylcholine, mecholyl, carbaminoylcholine, pilocarpine, nicotine, tetramethylammonium, and histamine were usually ineffective. 3. The exposure of the animal body to heat resulted in a spontaneous sweating on the general hairy skin surface, which was blocked by dihydroergotamine in relatively low concentrations and also by atropine in relatively high concetrations. This sweating was abolished or markedly reduced by sympathectomy. 4. Direct application of radiant heat to a restricted skin area induced a localized sweating which was highly resistant to dihydroergotamine, atropine and procaine. 5. The innervation of the goat apocrine glands was discussed. We wish to express our thanks to Professor Masao Wada for his advice and guidance throughout this work and also for performing sympathectomy for us.