title: Limb vs trunk sweat gland recruitment patterns during exercise in humans.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the sweat gland recruitment pattern, on multiple trunk and limb sites, during exercise. Nineteen male volunteers performed 30 min of exercise on a cycle ergometer at approx. 25, 50 and 75% of their maximal oxygen uptake. The number of active sweat glands (per cm(2)) was determined immediately following each exercise bout at the following six sites: left triceps, chest, back, forearm, thigh and calf. The data showed that increases in rectal temperature during exercise resulted in a linear increase in the absolute number of active sweat glands recruited at all six sites (r=0.60-0.80). However, on a percentage basis, the limb sites increased proportionally more (300-600% increase) than the trunk sites (100-200% increase) with increases in rectal temperature. These data suggest that the absolute number of sweat glands recruited, on both the trunk and the limbs, increases in a linear manner with increases in rectal temperature during exercise. However, on a proportional basis, sweat gland recruitment on the limbs is greater than that found on the trunk during progressive exercise.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences and Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Buono