Exploring the mechanisms of sympathetic innervation of eccrine sweat glands during exercise in humans

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H03317
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Amano Tatsuro 新潟大学, 人文社会科学系, 准教授 (60734522)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 藤井 直人 筑波大学, 体育系, 助教 (00796451)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: アドレナリン受容体 / 汗腺 / 熱中症 / 発汗 / 運動トレーニング / 経皮薬剤送達 / イオントフォレーシス / マイクロニードル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study examined whether noradrenergic sympathetic nerves contribute to sweating during exercise in humans. Noradrenergic sympathetic nerve inhibitors significantly reduced sweating during exercise. However, although alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors could partially contribute to sweating interactively, it was likely that alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors do not contribute to the attenuation of sweating induced by the administration of noradrenergic sympathetic nerve inhibitors. Adrenoceptors did not contribute significantly to sweating even in glabrous skin where noradrenergic sympathetic innervation is thought to differ. These findings suggest that noradrenergic sympathetic nerves may specifically modulate sweating during exercise in non-glabrous skin only by unknown mechanisms other than adrenergic receptors.

Free Research Field

環境生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた知見はヒトの発汗機構の解明に寄与することができる。発汗は暑熱下の体温調節を担う重要な機構で，熱中症予防や運動の安全性に深く関与している。地球温暖化（沸騰化）が進む現代において，発汗がどのように制御されているのか，その機構を解明することで，熱中症になりやすい人の改善策を講じるなどの方法提案につながるため，その意義は大きい。また汗をかく動物はいるものの，ヒトのように体温調節を担う場合は極めて限られている。そのため，ヒトを対象に発汗研究を継続することの学術的意義は大きい。