The distribution and histological structure of sweat glands in the albino rat and their response to prolonged nervous stimulation

Abstract

NINE FIGURESThe production of swcating by appropriate nervous stimulation was first demoiistrated by Goltz in 1875. We have been unable to find in the literature any detailed description of the histological response of the sweat glands to such stimulation, although Way and Memmesheimer ( '36) have briefly described changes in the sweat cells in normal human material fixed in the "secretory" and "exhausted" state.It was deemed advisable as a preliminary to a projected experimental study of sudomotor function to undertake an investigation of changes in the sweat glands in response to electrical stimulation of sudomotor nerves. The albino rat was the animal of choice for reasons of convenience and economy. However a search of the literature failed to reveal any significant discussion of the normal histolo,gy of sweat glands in this species, and a t least 1 author maintained that the rat was devoicl of sweat ?lands.The present report therefore presents the normal histology and distribution of sweat glands in the albino rat together with a description of the changes accompanying prolonged, continuous stimulation of these glands.l Present address : Washington University School of Dentistry, St. Louis 10, Mn.

A new approach to assessing sweat production

“…Most isolated glands were reported to maintain relatively constant secretory activity for several hours under constant incubation conditions such as temperature (37"C), medium (modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate), pH (7.4) and an effective concentration of drugs such as acetylcholine (7, 11). The results reported are in agreement with those obtained for isolated monkey eccrine sweat glands (3) and rat glands (12,13). Approximately one-third of the dissected sweat glands failed t o secrete sweat following stimulation by methacholine or carbachol administration; in some, secretion terminated within half an hour following sweat induction.…”

The evolution of eccrine sweat gland research towards developing a model for human sweat gland function

“…Structural and functional investigations of animal sweat glands (rat, cat, dog, lemur and horse,) were carried out to identify an animal model for human glands. Unfortunately, these investigations did not show clear similarities with human eccrine glands and so research using human eccrine glands continued.…”

Cholinesterase and amine oxidase in the skin: a histochemical investigation

“…The pads of the feet and skin from the thigh were examined. The pads have sweat glands shown to be functional (Ring & Randall, 1947). On incubation with acetylthiocholine (P1.…”