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Blocking the beta-adrenergic system does not affect sweat gland function during heat acclimation.

Ricardo Martinez¹, Douglas Jones, Daniel Hodge

¹School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-7251, USA.

Autonomic Neuroscience : Basic & Clinical

|June 20, 2012

Summary

Beta-adrenergic innervation does not enhance sweat production in humans after heat acclimation. This study found no significant difference in sweat rates between inhibited and control arms, questioning its physiological role.

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Area of Science:

Human physiology
Thermoregulation
Sweat gland function

Background:

Eccrine sweat glands are crucial for thermoregulation.
Innervation of sweat glands involves both cholinergic and adrenergic pathways.
The specific role of beta-adrenergic innervation in eccrine sweat production during heat acclimation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the hypothesis that beta-adrenergic innervation enhances sweat production in human eccrine sweat glands following heat acclimation.
To determine the physiological significance of adrenergic innervation in eccrine sweat glands.

Main Methods:

Eight healthy subjects underwent 8 days of active heat acclimation.
Beta-adrenergic blockade was achieved using propranolol via iontophoresis on one forearm.
A saline solution was used as a control on the opposing forearm.
Sweat rates were measured during exercise in a controlled environmental chamber.

Main Results:

No significant difference in mean sweat rate was observed between the propranolol-inhibited forearm (0.47 ± 0.30 mg/cm(2)/min) and the control forearm (0.44 ± 0.25 mg/cm(2)/min) after heat acclimation.
The findings do not support the hypothesis that beta-adrenergic innervation facilitates eccrine sweat gland function during heat acclimation.

Conclusions:

Beta-adrenergic innervation does not appear to play a significant role in facilitating eccrine sweat production following heat acclimation in humans.
The physiological importance of the dual cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of eccrine sweat glands requires further investigation.