Revisiting the dermatomal recruitment of, and pressure-dependent influences on, human eccrine sweating

Publication date: Available online 22 March 2019Source: Journal of Thermal BiologyAuthor(s): Remo Frei, Sean R. Notley, Elizabeth A. Taylor, Catriona A. Burdon, Norikazu Ohnishi, Nigel A.S. TaylorAbstractHerein we describe two experiments in which the recruitment and pressure-induced modifications of human eccrine sweating were investigated. In one experiment, the longstanding belief that glandular recruitment follows a gradual, caudal-to-rostral (dermatomal) recruitment pattern was re-evaluated. The onset of sweating was simultaneously determined (ventilated capsules) from four spinal (dermatomal) segments (forehead, dorsal hand, lower chest and dorsal foot) during the passive heating of supine participants (N = 8). No evidence was found to support either dermatomal or simultaneous glandular recruitment patterns. Instead, the results were more consistent with individualised (random) patterns of regional activation (P > 0.05), with significant time delays among sites. Such delays in the appearance of discharged sweat may reflect differences in neurotransmitter sensitivity, precursor sweat production or ductal reabsorption. In the second experiment, the pressure-induced hemihidrotic reflex (contralateral sudomotor enhancement) was revisited, using pressures applied over 10 cm2 areas of the chest (left side: 6 N cm−2) and left heel (3 N cm−2) during both supine and seated postures (N = 12). Participants were passively heated and thermally clamped befor...
Source: Journal of Thermal Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: research