Local Potentiation by Tetraethylammonium Ion of Central Tonic Impulses to Human Sweat Glands and Piloerector Muscles

¹ From the Department of Physiology, University of California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Intradermal tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) produces local sweating and piloerection which may be cyclic, a peculiar local tingling and apparent vasoconstriction. These effects are inhibited by local procaine and by peripheral or sympathetic nerve block. Other ganglionic blocking agents and chemical analogs of TEA do not share these actions. It is concluded that TEA potentiates, at the neuroeffector junction mechanism, background tone of the nerves innervating the cutaneous effectors.