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Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Genetic Modification and Recombination of Salivary Gland Organ Cultures

Genetic Modification and Recombination of Salivary Gland Organ Cultures

Published on: January 28, 2013

The evolution of sweat glands.

G E Folk¹, H A Semken

¹Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

International Journal of Biometeorology

|November 11, 1991

Summary

Mammals possess apocrine and eccrine sweat glands for cooling. This study finds these glands have similar functions, refuting the idea that eccrine glands evolved from apocrine glands.

Area of Science:

Mammalian Physiology
Evolutionary Biology
Dermatology

Background:

Mammals utilize two primary sweat gland types: apocrine and eccrine, for thermoregulation.
The evolutionary relationship and functional equivalence of these glands across species remain areas of investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the distribution and characteristics of apocrine and eccrine sweat glands in mammals, particularly primates.
To evaluate the hypothesis of eccrine gland evolution from apocrine glands during the Tertiary period.
To elucidate the functional roles of sweat glands in relation to fur presence and human-specific adaptations.

Main Methods:

Comparative anatomical analysis of sweat gland distribution in diverse mammalian species.
Histological examination of apocrine and eccrine gland structures.

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Review of paleontological and evolutionary data to assess gland development timelines.

Main Results:

Apocrine and eccrine glands exhibit functionally similar roles in thermoregulation across mammals, irrespective of fur coverage.
Evidence does not support the theory of eccrine gland development from apocrine glands in the Tertiary period.
Humans possess a distinct and highly developed eccrine sweat gland system.

Conclusions:

Apocrine glands are not evolutionarily primitive; both gland types have parallel functions in mammals.
The specialized human eccrine system likely co-evolved with bipedalism and reduced body hair.