Acclimatization and maximum number of functioning sweat glands in Hindu and Dutch females and males

Abstract

The number and distribution of thermally (hot water bath method) activated eccrine sweat glands have been measured in Dutch, Hindu and Bushnegro males and in Dutch and Hindu females in Surinam. Results are compared with those for Dutch and Hindu males and females in the Netherlands. The results suggest that the maximum number of functioning sweat glands (F.S.G.) changes during natural acclimatization and that probably the relative magnitude of this change depends on the percentage of "recruitment type" adapters within each racial group. This change was not apparent for all sixteen body areas studied. In these experiments high relative humidity had no influence on the number of functioning sweat glands. No sex differences were observed in body density or in pattern of regional distribution. Only the Hindu and Dutch males differed significantly in body density. A positive relationship was observed between body density and extremities-weight ratio in the three male groups.