title: Equine sweating and anhidrosis Part 2: anhidrosis.
abstract: The condition of anhidrosis is described in this review, and the latest theories on the causal factors are explored. The evidence supports the hypothesis that anhidrosis is an inappropriate response to prolonged climatic stress (generally combined heat and high humidity), which can be evoked in a small (approximately 10 +/- 5%) proportion of the equine population. It is caused by gradual failure of the glandular secretory cell processes, initiated by desensitization and subsequent down-regulation of the cell receptors as a result of continued adrenaline-driven hyperactivity. It progresses through secretory failure and culminates in gradual, probably irreversible, glandular dedifferentiation and ultimate degeneration. There is a need for considerably more research on the secretory and transcriptional processes to document the changes arising within the glandular secretory mechanism as a prelude to development of a corrective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: David McEwan
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: Hugh Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bovell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007007:Hypohidrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology*