Abstract INTRODUCTION Previous simultaneous biochemical studies on blood and palmar sweat1 suggested that the eccrine sweat duct, instead of being a mere passive conductor of sweat to the surface of the skin, may play an active role in the sweating mechanism.* Recently Araki and Ando6 surmised from their multiple studies that the concentrating mechanism of urea existed in the sweat gland duct, and this surmise was strengthened by previous observations by Kuno and his coworkers. The latter noted abundant capillaries around the sweat duct, and also found that the dyes and iron which entered the duct from the surface by electrophoresis escape through the duct wall into surrounding tissues. They suggested the possibility that the duct reabsorbs water and other constituents of sweat secreted by gland cells. Nitta7 explored the same possibility in his experiments on the changes in sweat constituents resulting References 1. For additional pertinent biochemical studies on human sweat, see References 2, 3, 4, and 5. 2. References 9 and 10. 3. References 11 to 16; Gualdi, A., and Baldino, N., cited by Rothman,15 p. 190. 4. References 10 and 21. 5. References 11 to 14; Gualdi, A., and Baldino, N., cited by Rothman,15 p. 190. 6. Cited by Rothman,15 p. 190. 7. References 12, 15, and 16. 8. Lobitz, W. C., Jr., and Masson, H. L.: Chemistry of Palmar Sweat: VII. Discussion of Studies on Chloride, Urea, Glucose, Uric Acid, Ammonia, Nitrogen and Creatinine , Arch. Dermat., & Syph. 57:907-915, 1948. 9. Weiner, J. S., and van Heyningen, R. E.: Observations on Lactate Content of Sweat , J. Appl. Physiol. 4:734-744, 1952. 10. Itoh, S., and Nakayama, T.: Amino Acids in Human Sweat , Jap. J. Physiol. 2:248-253, 1952. 11. Itoh, S., and Nakayama, T.: Ammonia in Human Sweat and Its Origin , Jap. J. Physiol. 3:133-137, 1953. 12. Thaysen, J. H., and Schwartz, I. L.: The Permeability of Human Sweat Glands to a Series of Sulfonamide Compounds , J. Exper. Med. 98: 261-268, 1953. 13. Araki, Y., and Ando, S.: Urea, Amino Acid and Ammonia in Human Sweat , Jap. J. Physiol. 3:211-218, 1953. 14. Nitta, H.: On the Possibility of a Reabsorption in the Excretory Duct of the Sweat Gland: Experiments on the Changes in Sweat Constituents Resulting from Application of Collodion Membrane on the Skin , Nagoya M. J. 1:59, 1953. 15. Schwartz, I. L.; Thaysen, J. H., and Dole, V. P.: Urea Excretion in Human Sweat as a Tracer for Movement of Water Within the Secreting Gland , J. Exper. Med. 97:429-437, 1953. 16. Holyoke, J. B., and Lobitz, W. C., Jr.: Histologic Variations in the Structure of Human Eccrine Sweat Glands , J. Invest. Dermat. 18:147-166, 1952. 17. Lobitz, W. C., Jr.; Holyoke, J. B., and Montagna, W.: Responses of the Human Eccrine Sweat Duct to Controlled Injury: Growth Center of the "Epidermal Sweat Duct Unit," J. Invest. Dermat. 23:329-344, 1954. 18. Montagna, W.; Chase, H. B., and Lobitz, W. C., Jr.: Histology and Cytochemistry of Human Skin: IV. The Eccrine Sweat Glands , J. Invest. Dermat. 20:415-423, 1953. 19. Yuyama, H.: Über die histologische Untersuchung der Glykogenverteilung in der leprösen Haut, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Bezichung zwischen der Funktion der Schweissdrüsen und der Schwankung des Glykogens , Jap. J. Dermat. & Urol. (Abstr. Sect.) 37:134-136, 1935. 20. Montagna, W.; Chase, H. B., and Hamilton, J. B.: The Distribution of Glycogen and Lipids in Human Skin , J. Invest. Dermat. 17:147-157, 1951. 21. Montagna, W.; Chase, H. B., and Lobitz, W. C., Jr.: Histology and Cytochemistry of Human Skin: II. The Distribution of Glycogen in the Epidermis, Hair Follicles, Sebaceous Glands and Eccrine Sweat Glands , Anat. Rec. 114:231-248, 1952. 22. Rothman, S.: Physiology and Biochemistry of the Skin , Chicago, The University of Chicago Press, 1954. 23. Shelley, W. B., and Mescon, H.: Histochemical Demonstration of Secretory Activity in Human Eccrine Sweat Glands , J. Invest. Dermat. 18:289-301, 1952. 24. Urbach, F., and Shelley, W. B.: A Rapid and Simple Method for Obtaining Punch Biopsies Without Anesthesia , J. Invest. Dermat. 17:131-134, 1951. 25. McManus, J. F. A.: Histological and Histochemical Uses of Periodic Acid , Stain Technol. 23:99-108, 1948. 26. Barrnett, R. J., and Seligman, A. M.: Histochemical Demonstration of Sulfhydryl and Disulfide Groups of Protein , J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 14:769-803, 1954. 27. Padykula, H. A.: The Localization of Succinic Dehydrogenase in Tissue Sections of the Rat , Am. J. Anat. 91:107-146, 1952. 28. Lobitz, W. C., Jr.; Holyoke, J. B., and Montagna, W.: The Epidermal Eccrine Sweat Duct Unit: A Morphologic and Biologic Entity , J. Invest. Dermat. 22:157-158, 1954.
A.M.A. Archives of Dermatology – American Medical Association
Published: Sep 1, 1955