EFFECTS OF A SODIUM PUMP INHIBITOR ON SKIN POTENTIAL ACTIVITY IN HUMAN SWEAT GLANDS

Abstract

To examine the effect of the ductal reabsorption of sodium in the sweat gland of the measured skin potential level (SPL) and skin potential reflex (SPR), an inhibitor of the sodium pump, G-strophanthin was injected into the subcutaneous tissue in humans. A sharp reduction of SPL in negativity was obtained just after the injection, while there was no observable change in SPR waveform compared with the non-treated concurrent control if the reflex amplitude was ignored. It is indicated that the sodium pump theory can not sufficiently account for the production of positive component of SPR. It is also suggested that there may be not so strict association between SPL and SPR waveform as was argued previously.