Videomicroscopic observation on activity of individual sweat glands in palm

Abstract

The activity of individual sweat glands of the palm in response to mental stimuli was observed videomicroscopically. Discharges of sweat from sweat pores on a 20mm² area were recorded on video tapes. The timing of sweat discharge in individual sweat glands was determined with an aid of video play-back. Sweat rate on an adjacent area was recorded continuously by capacitance hygrometry. The more sweat rate increased in response to mental stimuli, the more was the total number of discharges from the sweat glands involved. Although the threshold of individual sweat glands differed, the level of sweat rate did not always correspond to activation of certain sweat glands except for case of a low sweat rate. The activity of many sweat glands waxed and waned in time course of 30-40 min, regardless of kinds of mental stimuli. Such fluctuations may likely be caused by fatigue in secretory process, rather than changes in the activity of neuro-glandular units.