In vivo and in vitro characteristics of eccrine sweating in patas and rhesus monkeys

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Abstract
Biopsy specimens from the chest, palm, back and lateral calf were obtained from 3 patas (4-6 kg) and 2 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 2 spp. of monkey. Mean maximal in vitro sweating rates on the chest and lateral calf of the 3 patas monkeys were 3.79 and 4.6 nl .cntdot. gl-1 .cntdot. min-1, respectively. The in vitro sweating rate of the rhesus chest glands was negligible, i.e., 0.05 nl .cntdot. gl-1 .cntdot. min-1. Maximal in vivo sweating rates measured by resistance hygrometry during exercise in a hot (40.degree. 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 2- to 6-fold higher in the patas compared with that of the rhesus monkey. The patas monkey is an excellent model for studying the physiology of sweating in humans.

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