Contribution of central versus sweat gland mechanisms to the seasonal change of sweating function in young sedentary males and females

In summer and winter, young, sedentary male (N = 5) and female (N = 7) subjects were exposed to heat in a climate chamber in which ambient temperature (Ta) was raised continuously from 30 to 42°C at a rate of 0.1°C min⁻¹ at a relative humidity of 40%. Sweat rates (SR) were measured continuously on forearm, chest and forehead together with tympanic temperature (Tty), mean skin temperature ( [`T] s ) left( {overline {hbox{T}} {hbox{s}}} right) and mean body temperature ( [`T] b ) left( {overline {hbox{T}} {hbox{b}}} right) . The rate of sweat expulsions (Fsw) was obtained as an indicator of central sudomotor activity. Tty and ( [`T] b ) left( {overline {hbox{T}} {hbox{b}}} right) were significantly lower during summer compared with winter in males; SR was not significantly different between summer and winter in males, but was significantly higher during summer in females; SR during winter was higher in males compared with females. The regression line relating Fsw to ( [`T] b ) left( {overline {hbox{T}} {hbox{b}}} right) shifted significantly from winter to summer in males and females, but the magnitude of the shift was not significantly different between the two subject groups. The regression line relating SR to Fsw was steepened significantly from winter to summer in males and females, and the change in the slope was significantly greater in females than in males. Females showed a lower slope in winter and a similar slope in summer compared to males. It was concluded that sweating function was improved during summer mediated by central sudomotor and sweat gland mechanisms in males and females, and, although the change of sweat gland function from winter to summer was greater in females as compared with males, the level of increased sweat gland function during summer was similar between the two subject groups.