Palmar or Plantar Sweat Electrolyte Concentration in the Monkey. I

Effects of an Aldosterone Antagonist, and Discussion on Ductal Sodium Reabsorption

Abstract

The sodium and chloride concentrations of the palmar sweat of the monkey, induced by systemic administration of pilocarpine, revealed an increase along with increasing sweat rates, never exceeding the level of their concentrations in plasma. The potassium concentration revealed to exceed the level of the plasma potassium concentration regardless of the sweat rate.
Administration of spironolactone elevated the sodium and chloride concentrations, and decreased the K/Na ratio.
On the basis of these findings, as well as the findings in man and the antipodal experiment in the dog treated with aldosterone administration, the duct of the palmar sweat gland in the monkey is considered to have sodium reabsorption capacity similar to those in man, and to be useful as an animal model for the study of the sweat gland physiology.