Original Article
Temporal and thermal variations in site-specific thermoregulatory sudomotor thresholds: Precursor versus discharged sweat production
Christiano A. Machado-Moreira,
Robert J. Barry,
Martin J. Vosselman,
Rafael M. Ruest,
Nigel A. S. Taylor,
Christiano A. Machado-Moreira
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorRobert J. Barry
Centre for Psychophysics, Psychophysiology and Psychopharmacology, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMartin J. Vosselman
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorRafael M. Ruest
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Nigel A. S. Taylor
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Address correspondence to: Nigel A. S. Taylor, Ph.D., Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorChristiano A. Machado-Moreira,
Robert J. Barry,
Martin J. Vosselman,
Rafael M. Ruest,
Nigel A. S. Taylor,
Christiano A. Machado-Moreira
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorRobert J. Barry
Centre for Psychophysics, Psychophysiology and Psychopharmacology, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorMartin J. Vosselman
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorRafael M. Ruest
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Nigel A. S. Taylor
Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
Address correspondence to: Nigel A. S. Taylor, Ph.D., Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorThis project was supported in part by a doctoral scholarship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES (Ministry of Education, Brazil).
Abstract
Temporal and thermal differences between the initiation of precursor, eccrine sweat and its surface discharge were investigated during passive heating. Sudomotor activity was evaluated using electrodermal (precursor) and ventilated sweat capsule measurements (dorsal fingers, dorsal hand, forehead, forearm). Passive heating significantly elevated auditory canal (0.5oC) and mean body temperatures (0.9oC). At each site, the precursor sudomotor thresholds occurred at a lower mean body temperature (P < .05), with an average elevation of 0.35oC (SD 0.04). However, discharged thresholds were delayed until this temperature had risen 0.53oC (SD 0.04), producing significant phase delays across sites (mean: 4.1 min [SD 0.5]; P < .05). It is concluded that precise sudomotor threshold determinations require methods that respond to sweat accumulating within the secretory coil, and not discharged secretions, reinforcing the importance of electrodermal techniques.
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