A method for the calculation of the relative contributions of recruitment and enhancement to human eccrine sweating

Abstract

The rate of eccrine sweating has been studied by collecting samples in unventilated capsules from human subjects following subdermal or intradermal injections of acetyl-beta-methylcholine and under moderate total body heat exposure. The rate of sweating in a given area of skin could increase by recruitment of fresh glands, enhanced output of the already active glands, or some combination of both.A theoretical analysis shows how recruitment and enhancement can be calculated separately, assuming the existence of a maximal rate of sodium reabsorption by eccrine sweat glands, a sodium concentration of 145 muEq/ml in the precursor fluid, the absence of significant water reabsorption, and the absence of back-diffusion of sodium. The results indicate that, depending on the experimental conditions, an increased rate of sweating can be attributed mainly to recruitment, to enhancement, or to a combination of both.