Skip to main content
Log in

Contribution of central versus sweat gland mechanisms to the seasonal change of sweating function in young sedentary males and females

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In summer and winter, young, sedentary male (N = 5) and female (N = 7) subjects were exposed to heat in a climate chamber in which ambient temperature (Ta) was raised continuously from 30 to 42°C at a rate of 0.1°C min−1 at a relative humidity of 40%. Sweat rates (SR) were measured continuously on forearm, chest and forehead together with tympanic temperature (Tty), mean skin temperature \( \left( {\overline {\hbox{T}} {\hbox{s}}} \right) \) and mean body temperature \( \left( {\overline {\hbox{T}} {\hbox{b}}} \right) \). The rate of sweat expulsions (Fsw) was obtained as an indicator of central sudomotor activity. Tty and \( \left( {\overline {\hbox{T}} {\hbox{b}}} \right) \) were significantly lower during summer compared with winter in males; SR was not significantly different between summer and winter in males, but was significantly higher during summer in females; SR during winter was higher in males compared with females. The regression line relating Fsw to \( \left( {\overline {\hbox{T}} {\hbox{b}}} \right) \) shifted significantly from winter to summer in males and females, but the magnitude of the shift was not significantly different between the two subject groups. The regression line relating SR to Fsw was steepened significantly from winter to summer in males and females, and the change in the slope was significantly greater in females than in males. Females showed a lower slope in winter and a similar slope in summer compared to males. It was concluded that sweating function was improved during summer mediated by central sudomotor and sweat gland mechanisms in males and females, and, although the change of sweat gland function from winter to summer was greater in females as compared with males, the level of increased sweat gland function during summer was similar between the two subject groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armstrong LE, Stoppani J (2002) Central nervous system control of heat acclimation adaptations: an emerging paradigm. Rev Neurosci 13:271–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Bini G, Hagbarth KE, Hyninnen P, Wallin BG (1980) Regional similarities and differences in thermoregulatory vaso- and sudomotor tone. J Physiol 306:553–565

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buono MJ, Heaney JH, Canine KM (1998) Acclimation to humid heat lowers resting core temperature. Am J Physiol 274:R1295–R1299

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buono MJ, Martha SL, Heaney JH (2009) Peripheral sweat gland is improved with humid heat acclimation. J Therm Biol 34:127–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen WY, Elizondo RS (1974) Peripheral modification of thermoregulaory function during heat acclimation. J Appl Physiol 37:367–373

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collins KJ, Crockford GW, Weiner JS (1966) The local training effect of secretory activity on the response of eccrine sweat glands. J Physiol 184:203–214

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cotter JD, Patterson MJ, Taylor NAS (1997) Sweat distribution before and after heat exposure. Eur J Appl Physiol 76:181–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fox RH, Goldsmith R, Kidd DJ (1963) Acclimatization to heat in man by controlled elevation of body temperature. J Physiol 166:530–547

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fox RH, Goldsmith R, Hampton IFG, Lewis HE (1964) The nature of the increase in sweating capacity produced by heat acclimatization. J Physiol 171:368–376

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fox RH, Löfstedt BE, Woodward PM, Eriksson E, Werkstrom B (1969) Comparison of thermoregulatory function in men and women. J Appl Physiol 26:444–453

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henane R, Valatx JL (1973) Thermoregulatory changes induced during heat acclimatization by controlled hyperthermia in man. J Physiol 230:255–271

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hensel H (1981) Thermoreception and temperature regulation. Academic, London, pp 219–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertig BA, Belding HS, Kraning KK, Batterton DL, Smith CR, Sargent F (1963) Artificial acclimatization of women to heat. J Appl Physiol 18:383–386

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Höfler W (1968) Changes in regional distribution of sweating during acclimatization to heat. J Appl Physiol 25:503–506

    Google Scholar 

  • Hori S (1995) Adaptation to heat. Jpn J Physiol 45:921–946

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horstman DH, Christensen E (1982) Acclimatization to dry heat: active men vs. active women. J Appl Physiol 52:825–831

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imamura R (1993) Efficacy of sweat gland training in female. J Aichi Med Univ Assoc 21:107–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Inoue Y, Nakao M, Okudaira S, Ueda H, Araki T (1995) Seasonal variation in sweating responses of older and younger men. Eur J Appl Physiol 70:6–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inukai Y, Sugenoya J, Kato M, Nishimura N, Nishiyama T, Matsumoto T, Sato M, Ogata A, Taniguchi Y, Osada A (2005) Effects of body posture on local sweating and sudomotor outflow as estimated using sweat expulsion. Auton Neurosci 119(1):48–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato M, Sugenoya J, Matsumoto T, Nishiyama T, Nishimura N, Inukai Y, Okagawa T, Yonezawa H (2001) The effects of facial fanning on thermal comfort sensation during hyperthermia. Pflügers Arch 443(2):175–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuno Y (1956) Human perspiration. Thomas, Springfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Libert JP, Candas V, Vogt JJ (1983) Modifications of sweating responses to thermal transients following heat acclimation. Eur J Appl Physiol 50:235–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadel ER, Bullard RW, Stolwijk JA (1971) Importance of skin temperature in the regulation of sweating. J Appl Physiol 31:80–87

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadel ER, Pandolf KB, Roberts MF, Stolwijk JAJ (1974) Mechanisms of thermal acclimation to exercise and heat. J Appl Physiol 37:515–520

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura Y, Okamura K (1998) Seasonal variation of sweating responses under identical heat stress. Appl Hum Sci 17:167–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa T, Asayama M (1978) Frequency of sweat expulsions, as indicator of sudomotor neural activity. In: Houdas Y, Guieu JD (eds) New trends in thermal physiology. Masson, Paris, pp 105–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa T, Bullard RW (1972) Characteristics of subthreshold sudomotor neural impulses. J Appl Physiol 33:300–305

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa T, Asayama M, Miyagawa T (1982) Effects of sweat gland training by repeated local heating. Jpn J Physiol 32:971–981

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa T, Ohnishi N, Yamashita Y, Sugenoya J, Asayama M, Miyagawa T (1988) Effect of facial cooling during acclimation process on adaptive changes in sweating activity. Jpn J Physiol 38:479–490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa T, Sugenoya J, Ohnishi N, Natsume K, Imai K, Kandori Y, Ishizuka A, Osada A (1993) Effects of body and head positions on bilateral difference in tympanic temperatures. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 67:354–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson MJ, Stocks JM, Taylor NAS (2004) Humid heat acclimation does not elicit a preferential sweat redistribution toward the limbs. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 286:R512–R518

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollock ML, Bohannon RL, Cooper KH, Ayres JJ, Ward A, White SR, Linnerud AC (1976) A comparative analysis of four protocols for maximal treadmill testing. Am Heart J 92:39–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramanathan NL (1964) A new weighting system for mean surface temperature of the human body. J Appl Physiol 19:531–533

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts MF, Wenger CB, Stolwijk JAJ, Nadel ER (1977) Skin blood flow and sweating changes following exercise and heat acclimation. J Appl Physiol 43:133–137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato K, Sato F (1983) Individual variations in structure and function of human eccrine sweat gland. Am J Physiol 245:R203–R208

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shvartz F, Bhattacharya A, Sperinde SJ, Brock PJ, Sciaraffa D, van Beaumont W (1979) Sweating responses during heat acclimation and moderate conditioning. J Appl Physiol 46:675–680

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugenoya J, Ogawa T (1985) Characteristics of central sudomotor mechanism estimated by frequency of sweat expulsions. Jpn J Physiol 35:783–794

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugenoya J, Ogawa T, Asayama M, Miyagawa T, Yamashita Y, Ohnishi N (1986) Involvement of the central sudomotor mechanism in an increased sweating capacity following the heat acclimation. J Aichi Med Univ Assoc 14:653–661

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugenoya J, Iwase S, Mano T, Ogawa T (1990) Identification of sudomotor activity in cutaneous sympathetic nerves using sweat expulsion as the effector response. Eur J Appl Physiol 61:302–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weinman KP, Slabochova Z, Bernauer EM, Morimoto T, Sargent F (1967) Reactions of men and women to repeated exposure to humid heat. J Appl Physiol 22:533–538

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wyndham CH (1967) Effect of acclimation on the sweat rate/rectal temperature relationship. J Appl Physiol 22:27–30

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wyndham CH, Morrison JF, Williams CG (1965) Heat reactions of male and female Caucasians. J Appl Physiol 20:357–364

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yumiko Taniguchi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taniguchi, Y., Sugenoya, J., Nishimura, N. et al. Contribution of central versus sweat gland mechanisms to the seasonal change of sweating function in young sedentary males and females. Int J Biometeorol 55, 203–212 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0325-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0325-1

Keywords

Navigation