Evidence of purinergic neurotransmission in isolated, intact horse sweat glands. Issue 4 (10th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bovell, Douglas L.; Riggs, Christopher M.; Sidlow, Gordon; Troester, Suzanne; MacLaren, William; Yip, Wallace; Ko, Wing H.
• Is Part Of: Veterinary dermatology. Volume 24:Issue 4(2013:Aug.)
• Page Start: 398
• Page End: e86
• Publication Date: 2013-06-10
• Subjects: Veterinary dermatology -- Periodicals; Pet medicine -- Periodicals; 636.08965
• DOI: 10.1111/vde.12042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4493

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="vde12042-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="vde12042-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Fluid secretion by sweat glands in response to heat and exercise is underpinned by increases in intracellular calcium. In horses, this is primarily via β<sub>2</sub>‐adrenoceptors, but studies in equine sweat gland cell lines have indicated a possible role for purinergic agonists. Knowledge of equine sweating stimulus–secretion mechanisms in intact glands from healthy animals would allow future comparison to determine whether these mechanisms are affected in equine anhidrosis.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12042-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Hypothesis/Objectives</title> <p>To determine whether purinergic agonists can induce changes in intracellular calcium in intact, freshly isolated equine sweat glands.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12042-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Eleven healthy thoroughbred horses from the Hong Kong Jockey Club were used in this study.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12042-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Freshly isolated equine sweat glands were loaded with the calcium‐sensitive fluorescent dye fura‐2 AM, and changes in intracellular calcium were recorded before, during and after stimulation by purinergic agonists.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12042-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Purinergic agonists ATP and UTP generated significant increases in intracellular calcium.</p> </sec> <sec id="vde12042-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and clinical importance</title> <p>The results show that it is possible to investigate stimulus–secretion coupling mechanisms by fluorescence imaging in equine sweat glands that have been isolated from fresh skin samples. Such isolated glands retain functional β<sub>2</sub>‐adrenoceptors and P2Y purinergic receptors that couple to a calcium‐signalling pathway. Using isolated, intact sweat glands therefore offers a very useful model for the further study of secretory processes in equine sweat glands, and using this experimental approach could facilitate a better understanding of how these mechanisms are affected in equine anhidrosis.</p> </sec> </abstract>