Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 53, Issue 2 425-431, Copyright © 1982 by American Physiological Society
In vivo and in vitro characteristics of eccrine sweating in patas and rhesus monkeys
C. V. Gisolfi, K. Sato, P. T. Wall and F. Sato
Biopsy specimens from the chest, palm, back, and lateral calf were obtained
from three patas (4-6 kg) and two rhesus monkeys (6 and 8 kg) tranquilized
with ketamine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg). The eccrine sweat glands of the
specimens were subsequently isolated under a stereomicroscope and prepared
for analysis. In both palmar and hairy skin (chest, lateral calf) patas
eccrine glands were larger than those isolated from corresponding sites
obtained from the rhesus specimens. In vitro stimulation of the patas'
glands with methacholine (MCH) chloride produced a dose-dependent increase
in sweating rate that was blocked by atropine. Maximal palmar sweating was
comparable between the two species of monkey. Mean maximal in vitro
sweating rates on the chest and lateral calf of the three patas monkeys
were 3.79 and 4.6 nl. gl-1.min-1, respectively. In contrast, the in vitro
sweating rate of the rhesus chest glands was negligibly small, i.e., 0.05
nl.gl-1. min-1. Maximal in vivo sweating rates measured by resistance
hygrometry during exercise in a hot (40 degrees C) environment were usually
synchronous, cyclic, and only slightly below maximal in vitro rates. When
the monkey (patas) was already sweating, the onset and cessation of
exercise produced an immediate rise and decline in sweating, respectively.
At any given rectal or mean skin temperature, sweating was two- to sixfold
higher in the patas compared with that of the rhesus monkey. These results
indicate that the patas monkey is an excellent model for studying the
physiology of sweating in humans.
