Neural control of sweat secretion: a review. (1st June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Y.; Converse, C.; Lyons, M.C.; Hsu, W.H.
• Is Part Of: British journal of dermatology. Volume 178:Number 6(2018)
• Page Start: e448
• Page End: e448
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/bjd.16204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-0963

Abstract

Summary: Humans have four million sweat glands, which can be classified into two types: eccrine (which make up about 90% of our sweat glands) and apocrine glands. In the 1980s, scientists discovered a third type, the apoeccrine sweat gland. However, this has been disputed by some scientists and it is not well understood. The functions of sweat glands are to maintain body temperature, to release waste products, and to respond to emotional stresses. Sweating which is involved in body temperature regulation and responding to emotional stress is controlled by signals from the body's central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system using neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that carry signals between cells in the body, including neurons. This means that the body's nervous systems are crucial to sweating. This review looks at the science behind sweating, in particular the neural (nervous system) control of sweat secretion and the mechanisms by which neurotransmitters trigger sweating. The researchers, from the U.S.A., also discuss sweating disorders associated with neural anomaly such as hyperhidrosis (in which people sweat too much) and hypohydrosis (not enough). The study also outlines the possible treatments for such disorders, and their effectiveness.