The role of circulating catecholamines in sweat production in man

1. The effects of intravenous infusions of adrenaline, isoprenaline and noradrenaline on human sweating were assessed by continuous measurement of total body weight loss in normal subjects.2. All three catecholamines increased the rate of weight loss but isoprenaline was effective in a much smaller dosage than either adrenaline or noradrenaline.3. beta-adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol reduced the response.4. The response was not abolished by collecting expired air in a Douglas bag suggesting that it was not due to an increase in respiratory water loss.5. The response was not abolished by atropine infusions suggesting that it was not mediated through cholinergic sudomotor nerves.6. It is concluded that intravenous infusions of catecholamines may elicit a small, non-cholinergically mediated sweat response in man.