The function of cattle sweat glands.

Abstract

Evidence is presented that the apocrine sweat glands of cattle have a temperature-regulating function. Under the stereo microscope, sweat droplets could be observed forming at the openings of the sweat gland ducts in response to intradermal injections of adrenaline, and during exposure to hot conditions. The sweat spots could be stained macroscopically, and prints showing the location of the spots were obtained with bromothymol blue papers pressed onto the skin surface. Quantitative measurements indicate that the evaporation of this sweat is the main source of heat loss in hot environments.