THE SWEAT RESPONSE TO DRUGS WITH NICOTINE-LIKE ACTION

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology and the Department of Medicine, Section of Dermatology, of the University of Chicago, Chicago

1. Intradermal injection of high dilutions of drugs with a nicotine-like action (acetylcholine, nicotine, alpha-lobeline) caused an outbreak of sweat on the human skin in an area with a 2 to 5 cm. diameter around the wheal.

2. Intradermal acetylcholine produced sweating in two ways: directly by its muscarine-like action, and reflexly by its nicotine-like action.

3. Drugs with nicotine-like action also caused an outbreak of sweat droplets on the foot pad of the cat when injected into the pad.

4. This sweat response is abolished by infiltration of the skin with local anesthetics, remains active in areas anesthetized by nerve block, and can be elicited in extirpated cat's toe pads.

5. It is concluded that the sweating is effected through an axon reflex involving the terminal ramifications of the postganglionic sympathetic fibers supplying the sweat glands.

6. The nerve pathway over which this axon reflex occurs is 10 to 20 times as sensitive to local anesthetics as are sensory nerves.

7. The receptor point of the axon reflex behaves like an autonomic ganglion cell in being stimulated by small concentrations of drugs with nicotine-like action and paralyzed by large concentrations.

8. Attempts to demonstrate an anhidrotic effect of large doses of drugs with a nicotine-like action administered intravenously in cats or subcutaneously in man were unsuccessful.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. I. Faden, P. Chan, and E. Mendoza Progressive Isolated Segmental Anhidrosis Arch Neurol, March 1, 1982; 39(3): 172 - 175. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. C. LOBITZ Jr. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SWEAT APPARATUS Arch Dermatol, August 1, 1952; 66(2): 152 - 155. [Abstract] [PDF]