Abstract
This chapter discusses how direct stimulation with acetylcholine (Ach) or cholinergic agonists such as pilocarpine provides first order information concerning functional integrity of the sweat gland and its muscarinic innervations. The axon reflex occurs when ACh stimulates nicotinic receptors on the postganglionic sympathetic sudomotor axon. One of the commonly accepted measures of axon reflex sweating is the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART). The standard Ach stimulus that evokes this response is five minutes of constant anodal current iontopheresis of 10% Ach in the outer compartment of a multicompartmental sweat cell. Patterns of abnormality include absence or reduction of integrated sweat response with prolongation of latency to onset. The QSART provides high temporal resolution information regarding sweat gland output but limited information about sweat gland number and activity. Silicone impressions can be made from the skin after Ach iontopheresis is complete and the skin dried. The sympathetic skin response (SSR) is a polysynaptic reflex that requires integrity of hypothalamic, brainstem and spinal circuits, and postganglionic sympathetic sudomotor axons.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
