Chemosignals of Stress Influence Social Judgments

Human body odors have important communicative functions regarding genetic identity, immune fitness and general health, but an expanding body of research suggests they can also communicate information about an individual’s emotional state. In the current study, we tested whether axillary odors obtained from women experiencing psychosocial stress could negatively influence personality judgments of warmth and competence made about other women depicted in video scenarios. 44 female donors provided three types of sweat samples: untreated exercise sweat, untreated stress sweat and treated stress sweat. After a ‘washout’ period, a commercial unscented anti-perspirant product was applied to the left axilla only to evaluate whether ‘blocking’ the stress signal would improve the social evaluations. A separate group of male and female evaluators (n = 120) rated the women in the videos while smelling one of the three types of sweat samples. Women in the video scenes were rated as being more stressed by both men and women when smelling the untreated vs. treated stress sweat. For men only, the women in the videos were rated as less confident, trustworthy and competent when smelling both the untreated stress and exercise sweat in contrast to the treated stress sweat. Women’s social judgments were unaffected by sniffing the pads. The results have implications for influencing multiple types of professional and personal social interactions and impression management and extend our understanding of the social communicative function of body odors.     

The adaptive response of human skin to the savanna

In the early stage of human evolution, as the hominids began to inhabit the savanna mosaic in Africa some three or four million years ago, a functional complex of skin features contributed to their effective exploitation of resources and survival in the new environment. Thermal radiation from the sun combined with internally generated heat from muscular effort posed problems of thermoregulation. As a mechanism for dissipating body heat and maintaining brain temperature, eccrine sweat glands throughout the body surface combined with reduction in body hair enhanced the evaporative cooling effects of sweating. As body hair diminished, deeply pigmented skin was selected for as a protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation. When human populations left the equatorial regions of Africa, the adaptive significance of deeply pigmented skin may have shifted in response to other factors, such as latitude, diet and cultural pratices. We view the structure and function of human skin within a comparative and evolutionary framework that focuses on the environment in which the hominids evolved.     

Texture of the skin graft, with special reference to the hydration state of the stratum corneum

The water contained in the superficial portion of the stratum corneum plays an important role in keeping the skin surface soft and smooth. In an attempt to study the true nature of the "texture" of grafted skin, in vivo water sorption-desorption tests were performed on grafts, on normal skin adjacent to grafts, and on normal skin surrounding the donor sites. The results showed that skin grafted to sites other than the face maintained a functional similarity to normal skin surrounding the donor site. However, in skin grafted to the face, the functions of the stratum corneum, as measured in terms of hydration state, increased, and this was associated with an improved water-holding capacity that probably results from the effect of abundant sebum and sweat excretion in adjacent skin. From these results it is suggested that the recipient site plays an important role in determining the difference in the function of the stratum corneum, i.e., the "texture" between grafts on the face and those on other sites.     

Dynamics of sweating in men and women during passive heating

The dynamics of sweating was investigated at rest in 8 men and 8 women. Electrical skin resistance (ESR), rectal temperature (Tre) and mean skin temperature (Tsk) were measured in subjects exposed to 40 degrees C environmental temperature, 30% relative air humidity, and 1 m X s-1 air flow. Sweat rate was computed from continuous measurement of the whole body weight loss. It was found that increases in Tre, Tsk and mean body temperature (Tb) were higher in women than in men by 0.16, 0.38 and 0.21 degrees C, but only the difference in delta Tb was significant (p less than 0.05). The dynamics of sweating in men and women respectively, was as follows: delay (td) 7.8 and 18.1 min (p less than 0.01), time constant (tau) 7.5 and 8.8 min (N.S.), inertia time (ti) 15.3 and 26.9 min (p less than 0.002), and total body weight loss 153 and 111 g X m-2 X h-1 (p less than 0.001). Dynamic parameters of ESR did not differ significantly between men and women. Inertia times of ESR and sweat rate correlated in men (r = 0.93, p less than 0.001), and in women (r = 0.76, p less than 0.02). In men, delta Tre correlated with inertia time of sweat rate (r = 0.81, p less than 0.01) as well as with the inertia time of ESR (r = 0.83, p less than 0.001). No relation was found between delta Tre and the dynamics of sweating in women. It is concluded that the dynamics of sweating plays a decisive role in limiting delta Tre in men under dry heat exposure. The later onset of sweating in women does not influence the rectal temperature increase significantly. In women, delta Tre is probably limited by a complex interaction of sweating, skin blood flow increase, and metabolic rate decrease.     

Deficiency of dermcidin-derived antimicrobial peptides in sweat of patients with atopic dermatitis correlates with an impaired innate defense of human skin in vivo

Antimicrobial peptides are an integral part of the epithelial innate defense system. Dermcidin (DCD) is a recently discovered antimicrobial peptide with a broad spectrum of activity. It is constitutively expressed in human eccrine sweat glands and secreted into sweat. Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) have recurrent bacterial or viral skin infections and pronounced colonization with Staphylococcus aureus. We hypothesized that patients with AD have a reduced amount of DCD peptides in sweat contributing to the compromised constitutive innate skin defense. Therefore, we performed semiquantitative and quantitative analyses of DCD peptides in sweat of AD patients and healthy subjects using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ELISA. The data indicate that the amount of several DCD-derived peptides in sweat of patients with AD is significantly reduced. Furthermore, compared with atopic patients without previous infectious complications, AD patients with a history of bacterial and viral skin infections were found to have significantly less DCD-1 and DCD-1L in their sweat. To analyze whether the reduced amount of DCD in sweat of AD patients correlates with a decreased innate defense, we determined the antimicrobial activity of sweat in vivo. We showed that in healthy subjects, sweating leads to a reduction of viable bacteria on the skin surface, but this does not occur in patients with AD. These data indicate that reduced expression of DCD in sweat of patients with AD may contribute to the high susceptibility of these patients to skin infections and altered skin colonization.     

Long-term survival of human skin allografts in patients with immunosuppression

Severe burn patients lack adequate skin donor sites to resurface their burn wounds. Patients with severe burn injuries to areas such as an entire face are presently reconstructed with skin grafts that are inferior to normal facial skin. This study was designed in part to determine whether human skin allografts would survive, repopulate, and persist on patients with immunosuppression and after discontinuation of immunosuppression. Small split-thickness skin grafts were synchronously transplanted at the time of renal transplantation from six renal transplant donors to recipients. All six patients were immunosuppressed with the usual doses of renal transplant immunosuppressants (methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, prednisone, and azathioprine). The skin allografts were biopsied when rejection was suspected and at various intervals. Special histologic studies were performed on skin biopsy specimens. Class II DNA tissue typing was performed on transplanted and autogenous skin biopsy specimens of four patients. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was performed successfully on skin biopsies of four patients' transplanted skin and on two of these four patients' autogenous skin. All six human skin allografts sustained a 100 percent take and long-term clinical survival. DNA tissue typing performed on skin allograft biopsy specimens from patients taking immunosuppressants all revealed donor and recipient cells. DNA tissue typing performed on autogenous skin biopsies from the same patients all revealed only recipient cells. Fluorescent in situ hybridization performed on allograft and autogenous specimens from patients taking immunosuppressants revealed transplanted donor cells with rare recipient cells in the allograft and only recipient cells in the autogenous skin. This study of six patients proves that it is possible for human skin allografts to survive indefinitely on patients taking the usual dosages of immunosuppressants used for renal transplantation. There was minimal repopulation of skin allografts by autogenous keratinocytes and fibroblast while patients were taking immunosuppressants. Immunosuppression was discontinued in two patients after renal transplant rejection after 6 weeks and 5 years. When immunosuppression was discontinued after 5 years in one patient, the skin allograft cells were destroyed and replaced with autogenous cells, but the skin graft did not reject acutely and persisted clinically. It is hypothesized that the acellular portion of the skin allograft was not rejected acutely because of relatively low antigenicity and because it acted as a lattice for autogenous cells to migrate into and replace rejected allograft skin cells. No chimerism was seen in autogenous skin in the skin-renal transplant patients in this study.     

Thermogenic and psychogenic recruitment of human eccrine sweat glands: Variations between glabrous and non-glabrous skin surfaces

Human eccrine sweat-gland recruitment and secretion rates were investigated from the glabrous (volar) and non-glabrous hand surfaces during psychogenic (mental arithmetic) and thermogenic stimuli (mild hyperthermia). It was hypothesised that these treatments would activate glands from both skin surfaces, with the non-thermal stimulus increasing secretion rates primarily by recruiting more sweat glands. Ten healthy men participated in two seated, resting trials in temperate conditions (25–26 °C). Trials commenced under normothermic conditions during which the first psychogenic stress was applied. That was followed by passive heating (0.5 °C mean body temperature elevation) and thermal clamping, with a second cognitive challenge then applied. Sudomotor activity was evaluated from both hands, with colourimetry used to identify activated sweat glands, skin conductance to determine the onset of precursor sweating and ventilated sweat capsules to measure rates of discharged sweating. From glandular activation and sweat rate data, sweat-gland outputs were derived. These psychogenic and thermogenic stimuli activated sweat glands from both the glabrous and non-glabrous skin surfaces, with the former dominating at the glabrous skin and the latter at the non-glabrous surface. Indeed, those stimuli individually accounted for ~90% of the site-specific maximal number of activated sweat glands observed when both stimuli were simultaneously applied. During the normothermic psychological stimulation, sweating from the glabrous surface was elevated via a 185% increase in the number of activated glands within the first 60 s. The hypothetical mechanism for this response may involve the serial activation of additional eccrine sweat glands during the progressive evolution of psychogenic sweating.     

Effect of physical training on peripheral sweat production

The purpose of this study was to determine the in vivo secretory activity of sweat glands from sedentary and trained subjects. Peripheral sweat production was determined using pilocarpine iontophoresis in 40 volunteers (10 sedentary men, 10 endurance-trained men, 10 sedentary women, 10 endurance-trained women). Peripheral sweat rate was significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in trained men [6.9 +/- 0.6 (SE) g.m2.min-1] and women (6.1 +/- 0.7) compared with sedentary men (3.1 +/- 0.5) and women (2.5 +/- 0.4). Furthermore, peripheral sweat rate was significantly correlated (r = 0.73) with maximal O2 uptake. The above two findings would suggest that physical training improves the secretory activity of the human sweat gland. Such a result supports previous findings that have suggested that the potentiation in sweating seen after training is achieved via a peripheral mechanism. In addition, several gender-related differences were found in the sudorific response of men and women. Specifically, women have a significantly greater sweat gland density, whereas men have a greater sweat production per gland.     

Volume and composition of hand sweat of white and black men and women in desert walks

Many investigators have sought, but failed to find, ethnic differences in the number and regional distribution of active sweat glands. In this study measurements have been made of sweat secreted on one hand and also on the whole body of Whites and Blacks walking in desert heat. Whites numbered 31 men and 27 women, ages 30 to 88 years; there were 21 Black men and 31 Black women, ages 16 to 61 years. Each walked on three occasions for 1 hour at a rate that required an oxygen consumption of about 40% of aerobic capacity. Ambient temperature ranged from 32 to 44°C in 1979 and 1980; means were 38.4°C in 1979 and 36.7°C in 1980. There was no sweat in the gloves of many Blacks; this was true of only a few Whites. Volume of body sweat increased in both races with rate of walking; volume of hand sweat increased more in Whites than in Blacks. The Mann-Whitney test revealed that volumes of hand sweat were significantly greater for Whites than for Blacks. It was concluded that in desert walks most Whites and few Blacks sweat freely on their hands. In samples of hand sweat, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^? were determined. Concentrations of each ion varied widely in both races, and were unrelated to race. Concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^? generally are somewhat higher in hand sweat than in body sweat; concentrations of K⁺ are much higher. It follows that the values for concentration of Na⁺ and Cl^? reported in Table 3 probably are somewhat higher than would have been found in body sweat, and concentrations of K⁺ are probably much higher.     

Single-stranded regions in transforming deoxyribonucleic acid after uptake by competent Haemophilus influenzae.

About 15% of donor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is single stranded immediately after uptake into competent Haemophilus influenzae wild-type cells, as judged by its sensitivity to S1 endonuclease. This amount decreases to 4 to 5% by 30 min after uptake. Mutants which are defective in the covalent association of recipient and donor DNA form little or no S1 endonuclease-sensitive donor. At 17 C donor DNA taken up by the wild type contains single-stranded regions although there is no observable association, either covalent or noncovalent. The single-stranded regions are at the ends of donor DNA molecules, as judged by the unchanged sedimentation velocity after S1 endonuclease digestion. The amount of single-stranded donor remains constant at 17 C for more than 60 min after uptake, suggesting that the decrease observed at 37 C is the result of association of single-stranded ends with single-stranded regions of recipient cell DNA. Three sequential steps necessary for the integration of donor DNA into recipient DNA are proposed: the synthesis of single-stranded regions in recipient DNA, the interaction of donor DNA with recipient DNA resulting in the production of single-stranded ends on donor DNA, and the stable pairing of homologous single-stranded regions.     

Sex differences in thermoeffector responses during exercise at fixed requirements for heat loss

To assess potential mechanisms responsible for the lower sudomotor thermosensitivity in women during exercise, we examined sex differences in sudomotor function and skin blood flow (SkBF) during exercise performed at progressive increases in the requirement for heat loss. Eight men and eight women cycled at rates of metabolic heat production of 200, 250, and 300 W/m(2) of body surface area, with each rate being performed sequentially for 30 min. The protocol was performed in a direct calorimeter to measure evaporative heat loss (EHL) and in a thermal chamber to measure local sweat rate (LSR) (ventilated capsule), SkBF (laser-Doppler), sweat gland activation (modified iodine-paper technique), and sweat gland output (SGO) on the back, chest, and forearm. Despite a similar requirement for heat loss between the sexes, significantly lower increases in EHL and LSR were observed in women (P ≤ 0.001). Sex differences in EHL and LSR were not consistently observed during the first and second exercise periods, whereas EHL (348 ± 13 vs. 307 ± 9 W/m(2)) and LSR on the back (1.61 ± 0.07 vs. 1.20 ± 0.09 mg·min(-1)·cm(-2)), chest (1.33 ± 0.06 vs. 1.08 ± 0.09 mg·min(-1)·cm(-2)), and forearm (1.53 ± 0.07 vs. 1.20 ± 0.06 mg·min(-1)·cm(-2), men vs. women) became significantly greater in men during the last exercise period (P < 0.05). At each site, differences in LSR were solely due to a greater SGO in men, as opposed to differences in sweat gland activation. In contrast, no sex differences in SkBF were observed throughout the exercise period. The present study demonstrates that sex differences in sudomotor function are only evidenced beyond a certain requirement for heat loss, solely through differences in SGO. In contrast, the lower EHL and LSR in women are not paralleled by a lower SkBF response.     

Gender differences in the sweat response during spinning exercise

The purpose of this field study was to examine gender differences in the sweat response reported in the literature in trained men and women during indoor cycling. In the present study, 14 men and 12 women took part in a 90-minute spinning class in preparation for a 108-km road race. Delta body mass, corrected for the volume of water consumed, was used to estimate sweat loss during the exercise period. Men had a significantly higher sweat rate (1.12 L.h(-1)) compared to women (0.57 L.h(-1)), despite the fact that there were no significant gender differences in ad libitum fluid intake. Future research should focus on determining whether women may be more efficient in sweat production and evaporation and whether men may have a greater reserve capacity for increased sweating.     

Effect of voluntary dehydration on thermoregulatory responses to heat in men and women

The effects of dehydration prior to heat exposure on sweating and body temperature were tested in 8 men and 8 women, dehydration being 1.3 and 1.0% of body weight, respectively. The subjects were exposed to 40 degrees C for 60 min. Compared with controls (C), in the dehydrated men (D) there was a longer delay in the onset of sweating (C, 7.8, D, 11.6 min, p less than 0.05), a lower total sweat loss (C, 153, D, 127 g X m-2 X h-1, p less than 0.001), and a greater increase in Tre (C, 0.31, D, 0.43 degree C, p less than 0.002). In women, dehydration did not influence the control time course of sweating significantly, nor were these significant body temperature increases during heat exposure. Delay in the onset of sweating in women (C, 18.1, D, 18.7 min) was generally longer than in men (C, 7.8, D, 11.6 min), [F(1,14) = 7.41, p less than 0.05]. A significant correlation was found between the inertia time of sweating and delta Tre in both control and dehydration conditions in the men (r = 0.81, p less than 0.01). The rectal temperature increases in men were also related to the inertia time of electrical skin resistance (r = 0.83, p less than 0.01). It is concluded that dehydration affects sweating and body temperature in men more severely than in women.     

Conjugal Deoxyribonucleic Acid Replication by Escherichia coli K-12: Effect of Nalidixic Acid

During the conjugal transfer of the R64-11 plasmid at 42 C from donor cells thermosensitive for vegetative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis to recipient minicells, the plasmids are conjugally replicated in the donor cells. This conjugal replication is inhibited by nalidixic acid, and the degree of inhibition is comparable to the reduction in the amount of plasmid DNA transferred to the recipient minicells in the presence of the drug. In addition, the size of DNA transferred to the minicells and the fraction of conjugally replicated DNA in the donor cells that can be isolated as closed-circular plasmid DNA under alkaline conditions are both reduced by nalidixic acid. When the drug is added to a mating that is underway, the rate of conjugal replication is immediately reduced. This change is accompanied by a reduction in the amount of conjugally replicated DNA in the donor cells that can be isolated as closed-circular plasmid DNA. Furthermore, conjugally replicated plasmid DNA that is not associated with the donor cell membrane becomes membrane bound after the addition of nalidixic acid.     

The Effects of Salts and Grease on BTEXs Gas/Sweat Equilibrium Partition: The Effects on Human BTEX Dermal Exposures

Human dermal exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) occurs via absorption through sweat on the skin surface. Those working under hot conditions with VOCs are most susceptible. To assess dermal exposure risk to gaseous VOCs, equilibrium partitioning coefficients (p_c) at the air–sweat interface must be analyzed. This study determined the p_c values of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene (BTEXs) in liquid concentrations of around 0.5–5 mg/l at the air–water and air–sweat interfaces at 27–47°C. The salt contents (sodium chloride, urea, ammonia, and sodium lactate) in the artificial sweat increased the p_c values of BTEXs. However, the mixture of grease (triolein and Tween 85) and salts decreased the p_c values of BTEXs. The values of p_c at 27–37°C decreased to about 21.68–60.53% for BTEXs in artificial sweat than those in pure water. The co-effect of salt and grease on p_c was elucidated further using the n-octanol-water partitioning constants (K_ow) of BTEXs. According to analytical results, the p_c of BTEXs at the air–water interfaces were larger than those for air–sweat, and the p_c data were utilized to assess risk for human dermal exposure to BTEXs.     

Physiological reaction of women during exercise and recovery, in a comfortable environment and a hot environment

Physiological reaction and oxygen intake during exercise and recovery were measured in fourteen young female Japanese during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle at 25 degree C with 50% relative humidity and at 35 degree C with 50% relative humidity. Subjects, clad in bathing suits only, performed a bicycle ergometer exercise at a constant work load of 600 kg . m/min at a cycling rate of 50 rpm for 20 min and recovered while remaining on the bicycle ergometer for 40 min. The mean values of sweat volume and skin temperature were significantly greater at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C. It has been shown that heart rate and rectal temperature during exercise were slightly higher at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C, while those during recovery were significantly higher at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C. Oxygen intake, oxygen debt, and the fall in diastolic blood pressure after exercise were considerably greater at 35 degree C than at 25 degree C. The increase in oxygen intake in a hot environment might result from an increased metabolism due to higher body temperature and increased energy requirement for heat dissipation such as profuse sweating, higher heart rate, and increased ventilatory volume. The increase in oxygen debt in a hot environment might reflect the increased metabolism caused by higher body temperature and the increased production of lactic acid in the working muscle as a result of an insufficient blood supply to the muscle. The increases in sweat volume, oxygen intake during exercise, and oxygen debt in women in a hot environment were considerably smaller than corresponding values for men. The smaller increase in sweat volume in women in a hot environment could reflect a smaller oxygen intake and a more marked dilation of skin vessels in women than in men.     

Consequences of partial body warming and cooling for the drives to local sweat rates

Climatic chamber experiments were carried out on young, healthy male students. The ambient temperature was 36 degrees C, while local warming of one extremity was compensated for by heatflow-equivalent cooling of the ipsilateral extremity by on-line calculation of the heat balance. When warming the arm and cooling the leg (type 1 experiments), a slight, but not statistically significant increase of local sweat rates at these extremities was recorded. However, when cooling the arm and warming the leg (type 2 experiments), both corresponding local sweat rates declined. The divergent results are interpreted in terms of previously reported different central weighting factors for skin temperatures as determined: (1) by the weighting for the area, or (2) by the weighting for the area and the sensitivity of the local sweat rate to warming and cooling. This means that the central processing of the mean skin temperature may be different for cooling and warming and that in both cases values can be different from recorded (area weighted) skin temperature. Calculating this modified mean skin temperature, we conclude that type 1 experiments may be interpreted by the hypothesis that the central regulator has a status very near an overall heat-balance, whereas type 2 experiments, although also carried out at heat-balance, may be centrally evaluated as predominant cooling. In these experiments again the central drives representing the whole body thermal state seem to override both the direct and centrally mediated local drives.     

Experimental determination of coefficient of evaporative heat loss in still air (author's transl)]

The authors have determined the coefficient of evaporative heat loss of the human body (he) by means of humidity steps in low air movement (Va less than or equal to 0,2 m/s). Such a determination requires a fully wetted skin and this implies therefore some loss of dripping sweat. The collection of this dripping sweat allows the determination of the total evaporation: this evaporation exists on the skin surface and around the drops during their fall from the skin to the oil pan where dripping sweat is collected. An estimation of this dripping sweat evaporation allows to assess the skin evaporation and, consequently, the evaporative coefficient he. In these experimental conditions: E = S - SNE - 0,0005 SNE (PsH2O - PaH2O) where E is the skin evaporative rate (g/h);S = total sweat rate (g/h);SNE = the nonevaporative sweat rate (g/h);PaH2O = the partial pressure of saturated water (at Ts) on skin (mb) and PaH2O the partial pressure of water vapor in ambient air (mb). The coefficient of evaporative heat loss in low air movement thus found, is 5,18 +/- 0,22 W/m2-mb.     

Leg skin temperature and thigh sweat output: possible central influence of local thermal inputs

To demonstrate whether or not the skin temperature of one lower limb can have an influence on the sweat rate of the contralateral leg, the two legs of five subjects were exposed inside leg-chambers to specific local thermal conditions while sweat rates were measured on both limbs. Three experiments (C I,II,III) of 3 h were carried out: each included two phases A and B. During A, the right leg was not ventilated, while the left leg was (C I) or was not (C II–III) ventilated. During B, the legs were either removed from the leg-chambers (C I) or ventilated inside the chambers at differently controlled levels of leg skin temperature (C II–III). At all times, sweat capsules on both legs measured the sweat rates of local areas of the thigh which were also temperature-controlled. Results showed that, at constant or slightly increased mean skin and core temperatures, the sweat output of one leg could be decreased at constant (C II) or higher local skin temperature (C III) probably due to a decrease in the temperature of the opposite leg. This finding is interpreted as a consequence of a central negative effect, originating from contralateral thermal inputs.     

Effect of age on heat-activated sweat gland density and flow during exercise in dry heat

Physiological responses of eight postmenopausal older women (age 52-62 yr) and eight younger women (age 20-30 yr) were compared during moderate intensity exercise in a hot dry environment (48 degrees C dry bulb, 25 degrees C wet bulb). The age groups were matched on the basis of maximal O2 consumption (VO2max), body surface area, and body fatness. After heat acclimation the women walked at 40% VO2max for up to 2 h in the hot dry environment while heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature (Tsk), whole-body sweating rate (Msw), and local sweating rates (msw; forearm, chest, and scapula) were measured. Additionally, the density of heat-activated sweat glands (HASG) was determined and average sweat gland flow (SGF) was calculated for the scapular area. Although no differences between age groups were found in HR response (when analyzed as percent of maximal HR) or Tsk, the older women had a significantly higher Tre throughout the heat-exercise session. The greater heat storage of the older women may be explained by their significantly lower Msw and msw. There were no differences between the younger and older women in the density of HASG after 30 min; therefore, the lower msw reflects a diminished output per HASG rather than a decrease in the number of sweat glands recruited. The diminished thermoregulatory ability of the older women, unrelated to differences in VO2max, appears to reflect either 1) a diminished response of the sweat glands to central and/or peripheral stimuli, or 2) an age-related structural alteration in the eccrine glands or surrounding skin cells.