Presence of Cholinesterase-rich Nerve Fibers around the Apocrine Sweat Glands of Japanese Axilla.

Tne distribution or cnonnesterase in tne numan sion nas been studied by several investigators, with particular attention to the nerve fibers around the sweat gland (H u r le y, Shelly and Koelle, 1953, Hellmann, 1955, and Montagna and Ellis, 1958). No cholinesterase-positive nerve fibers have been found around the apocrine sweat gland by these investigators, even though a physiological examination revealed definite apocrine responses with acetylcholine and mecholyl (A o k i, 1962). On the contrary Aavik (1955), Araki et al (1960) and Montagna and Ellis (1960) have reported the presence of cholinesterase-rich nerve fibers along the apocrine secretory coils of Caucasians, Japanese and Negroes respectively, The main subject of this paper deals with the relationship between the presence of cholinesterase around the apocrine glands and of some other enzymes in the secretory coils. This paper also deals with the distribution pattern of phosphorylase, non-specific esterases and alkaline phosphatase, which is a characteristic of the apocrine glands that are surrounded by nerves containing cholinesterase.