A comparison of sweat gland activity in eight species of East African bovids

Abstract

SUMMARY1. The pattern and control of the sweat glands of eight species of wild bovids has been studied.2. Heat exposure resulted in changes in cutaneous moisture loss which showed considerable species variation. Duiker, Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle and oryx all demonstrated periodic discharges of moisture on to the surface of the skin. Defassa waterbuck and eland exhibited discharges which were accompanied by a gradual rise in basal level. Buffalo showed an immediate large increase which was sustained during the period of heat exposure. Three wildebeest displayed small fluctuations whilst a fourth animal showed a step-wise increment in cutaneous moisture loss.3. The intravenous infusion of adrenaline into the buffalo and one wildebeest caused an increase in cutaneous moisture loss, the magnitude of which was directly related to the size of the dose administered. In three other wildebeest, and all other animals tested, a single injection of adrenaline was necessary to cause a discharge of moisture on to the surface of the skin. Noradrenaline was without effect.4. Heat-induced but not adrenaline-induced sweating was inhibited by the intravenous administration of an adrenergic neurone blocking agent, bethanidine. 5. It is concluded that the sweat glands of the wild bovids studied are under adrenergic neurone control, in common with the domestic bovids previously studied, and that there is no correlation between the pattern of sweating and the phylogenetic position of the species.

Palaeoenvironmental analysis of the Aragonian (middle Miocene) mammalian faunas from the Madrid Basin based on body-size structure

“…This fact could be a consequence of taphonomic bias against the preservation of small mammals in closed environments (Cantalapiedra et al, 2012), but since this difference is also detected in the modern fauna, we suggest that this pattern could be a consequence of the higher hydric constrictions of large prey mammals. Water is an environmental conditioning factor that forces large animals to inhabit preferentially more closed and humid environments (Robertshaw and Taylor, 1969;McNab, 2002) and consequently, smaller species would find benefits in get adapted to arid environments in order to avoid competition.…”

Studies on the nature of sweat gland ‘fatigue’ in the goat

“…Similar patterns of evaporative loss have been found in some wild East African bovids (Robertshaw & Taylor, 1969). A prominent feature of sweating in sheep and goats is the rapid decline in the amount of sweat produced at each discharge, an apparent 'fatigue' (Robertshaw, 1968 gland function has been noted in man after prolonged exposure to hot humid conditions and also after repeated administration of acetyl-/5-methylcholine (Thaysen & Schwartz, 1955; Collins, Sargent & Weiner, 1959).…”

The evolution of thermoregulatory sweating in man and animals

“…It would appear that the efficiency of panting is reduced in the l a r g e r species. (Robertshaw and Taylor, 1969a). The glands now come under the control of the central nervous system, but the nerves do not reach the glands and modulation of sudomotor activity is r a t h e r crude, fine adjustment of evaporation being by panting (D. Robertshaw, unpublished o b s e r v ations).…”

“…Although a nerve supply is essential for t h e r m a l sweating no nerve supply to the glands has been demonstrated histologically (Jenkinson, Sengupta and Blackburn, 1966). The glands a r e controlled by an adrenergie system involving a -r e c e p t o r s (Findlay and Robertshaw, 1965;Robertshaw, 1968;Robertshaw and Taylor, 1969a). They thus have local and neural controlling mechanisms, although the termination of the nerves is not at the sweat glands.…”