Palmar Skin Resistance and Sweat‐gland Counts in Drug and Non‐drug States

Abstract

Propantheline bromide, an anticholinergic blocking agent, was found to nullify all sizable changes in skin resistance. Betazole hydrochloride, a histamine isomer causing flushing of the skin, had no detectable effect on changes in skin resistance. Betazole hydrochloride did decrease the level of skin resistance, and it is possible that increased vasodilatation "pumps" more conductive (saline-like) substances into the skin. These results suggest that relatively rapid changes in skin resistance depend more upon sweat-gland activity than upon changes in the fluid content of the skin, without denying the importance of the latter. It may be that the level of skin resistance at any one time depends upon a combination of sweat-gland and vasomotor activities. Hence, as basal levels of skin resistance decrease, the relative magnitude of changes in skin resistance to stimuli also decreases (law of initial values). DESCRIPTORS: Histamine effects, Betazole hydrochloride. Skin resistance (SR) levels. Sweat-gland coimts (SWC), Anticholinergic drug effects, Propantheline bromide. from the National Institutes of Health, assisted in the statistical analysis. We wish to acknowledge the help of Dr. Robert Edelberg, University of Oklahoma Medical Center, who made several helpful suggestions concerning this paper, and the editorial assistance of Mrs. Peggy Ackerman.Address requests for reprints to: Kerrison Juniper, Jr., M.D., 4301 West Markham, Little k, Arkansas, 72201.

Mechanisms, Instrumentation, Recording Techniques, and Quantification of Responses

“…MacKinnon (1954b) reported a reduction of palmar sweat counts with age in male subjects, and Juniper and Dykman (1967), in an examination of male, female, Negro, and Caucasian subjects, noted a similar reduction. MacKinnon (1954b) reported a reduction of palmar sweat counts with age in male subjects, and Juniper and Dykman (1967), in an examination of male, female, Negro, and Caucasian subjects, noted a similar reduction.…”

“…Kopacz and Smith (1971) investigated the effects of three levels of shock threat on the skin conductance of 30 male and 30 female subjects, and reported significant main and interaction effects for electrodermal levels and responses. Juniper and Dykman (1967) reported sweat counts to be higher in women; their discussion in this and in a later publication (Juniper, Blanton, & Dykman, 1967) introduced also the possible significance of nonsudorific mechanisms being determinants of some sex differences in electrodermal activity. Hormonal effects have been tentatively suggested as a determinant of sex differences in basal skin potential level recorded with both NaCl and KC1 as the external electrolytes (Christie & Venables, 1971d).…”

“…Johnson and Landon (1965) subsequently reported inability to demonstrate differences in palmar sweat glands, and suggested that differences in sweat electrolyte concentrations might be implicated. Juniper and Dykman (1967) also reported that Negro males had fewer active sweat glands than Caucasian males of the same age range (40-60 years), and that Negro women of 20-39 years had fewer than Caucasian females of the same age range. Juniper and Dykman (1967) also reported that Negro males had fewer active sweat glands than Caucasian males of the same age range (40-60 years), and that Negro women of 20-39 years had fewer than Caucasian females of the same age range.…”

“…Values will depend upon concentration of electrolyte used, but with .5% KC1 as recommended (see Section V.B.5), values will range from +10 mV to -70 mV; exceptionally values of +30 mV may be recorded (see, for example, Ax & Bamford, 1968;Juniper & Dykman, 1967;O'Connell, Tursky, & Evans, 1967;Surwillo, 1969;Wyatt & Tursky, 1969). 3.…”

“…Both, however, view the epidermal mechanism as being more actively involved than is implied by Darrow's model (Edelberg, 1970;Wilcott, 1966). Other workers concerned with the role of hydration include Fowles and Venables (1970) ;Juniper, Blanton, and Dykman (1967);and Shimizu, Tajimi, Watanabe, and Niimi (1969). Other workers concerned with the role of hydration include Fowles and Venables (1970) ;Juniper, Blanton, and Dykman (1967);and Shimizu, Tajimi, Watanabe, and Niimi (1969).…”