On the Descending Spinal Pathways Subserving the Sweating of the Plantar Sweat Glands in Rats

Abstract

The present investigation has been undertaken to elucidate the spinal pathways for spontaneous sweating of plantar sweat glands in albino rats.
Total section, hemisection or unilateral partial section of the spinal cord were made at various levels and the effects of these sections on spontaneous sweating in the plantar surface were examined.
Experiments of the total section of the spinal cord indicated that secretory fibres for the plantar sweat glands in rats descended the thoracic segments of the spinal cord, leaving the spinal cord at the levels from D₁₁ to L₁.
Experiments involving the hemisection or partial section of the spinal cord indicated that the descending spinal pathways subserving spontaneous sweating in the plantar surface ran in the lateral or ventrolateral column and mostly without crossing.
I wish to express my gratitude to Prof. T. Suzuki, who suggested this pro-blem to me, for his encouragement and advice.