Authors
  Kennedy WR.  Wendelschafer-Crabb G.  Brelje TC.
Title
  Innervation and vasculature of human sweat glands: an
  immunohistochemistry-laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy
  study.
Source
  Journal of Neuroscience.  14(11 Pt 2):6825-33, 1994 Nov.
Abstract
  Secreting tubules, nerves fibers, and blood vessels in human sweat glands
  (SGs) were fluorescently stained by immunohistochemical and lectin methods
  for examination with a laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). Using
  these techniques, the three-dimensional distribution of up to three
  substances within a single specimen was investigated by collecting a
  series of optical sections for each of three fluorophores. Each SG
  received several nerve fibers. These branched into delicate bands of one
  or more axons that ran longitudinal to the sweat tubule then encircled the
  tubule. A heavy complement of capillaries was interwoven among the sweat
  tubules. Sweat ducts were accompanied from the SG toward the skin surface
  by one or two longitudinally oriented nerve fibers and capillaries.
  Immunoreactive staining of nerves was heaviest with protein gene product
  9.5 antibody, but triple labeling showed that immunoreactivity to
  calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and
  synaptophysin was also present in the same axons. Substance
  P-immunoreactive axons were sparse in SGs but were present in other areas
  of the skin. The techniques used have considerable potential in
  examination of human skin biopsies for diagnosis of disorders affecting
  the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.