Experimental frost-bite in Hanford Miniature Swine. III. Sweat gland changes.

Frost-bite was produced in five Hanford Miniature Swine by exposure to -75 degrees C air for 1, 3, 5, 10 or 20 min. Biopsies were taken at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h and 1, 2 and 15 weeks. Sweat glands were evaluated microscopically and graded: 0, no change to 5, severe change. Sweat gland changes were mild by 1 h and moderate by 24 h for all freeze groups, except the 1-min freeze group. Severe morphological changes were of two types: degeneration/necrosis and squamous metaplasia. These changes suggest that hyperhidrosis, as a sequel to frost-bite, may be more subjective than real and that squamous cell carcinoma, as a delayed sequel to frost-bite, could originate from sweat glands as well as from the epidermis.