The morphology of bovine sweat glands and the effect of heat on the sweat glands of the Ayrshire calf

Abstract

1. The normal sweat glands of twenty-eight calves, nineteen live adult cattle and eighteen slaughtered cattle from temperate breeds were examined. In every animal the lumen of the sweat glands contained a fluid-like material.2. It appeared on examination and rough measurement that the size of the sweat glands taken from animals after slaughter was smaller than that of the glands taken from live animals even when the same sampling technique was used for both.3. The sweat glands of sixteen calves were examined before and at intervals after the animals had been subjected to a hot environment. The glands were always seen full of a fluid-like material.4. It is concluded that if the calf sweat gland is stimulated by heat stress it must function either (a) by simple diffusion through the sweat gland wall and hence to the skin surface, or (b) by a secretory process not involving degeneration of the glandular epithelium. It is probable that at least part of the contents of the lumen of the sweat glands is derived from the epithelium by a process of active secretion.