61 - GI Pancreas Flashcards
Case study #4
Go read case study #4
How do H. pylori survive in an acidic environment?
Urease
- It is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia
- Helicobacter species are able to thrive in the very acidic mammalian stomach by producing large quantities of the enzyme urease, which locally raises the pH from about 2 to a more biocompatible range of 6 to 7
How do H. pylori contribute to ulcer formation?
- Helicobacter pylori that colonizes the antral mucosa. The immune system is unable to clear the infection, despite the appearance of antibodies. - Thus, the bacterium can cause a chronic active gastritis (type B gastritis).
- Gastrin stimulates the production of gastric acid by parietal cells.
- In H. pylori colonization responses to increased gastrin, the increase in acid can contribute to the erosion of the mucosa and therefore ulcer formation.
How does bismuth treat stomach ulcers?
Bismuth (pepto bismal)
- Bismuth provides an extra coating – replacement for the mucous barrier
How do tetracycline, metronidazole, and amoxicillin treat stomach ulcers?
Antibiotics to fight the microorganism
How do H2-receptor blockers treat stomach ulcers?
H2 receptor blockers inhibit the Histamine 2 receptor (highly expressed in the stomach) to result in decreased acid production (because histamine promotes acid production)
How do proton pump inhibitors treat stomach ulcers?
PPI inhibit the proton pump – works better than H2 blockers because it’s the final common pathway (blocks all contributing pathways to acid production)
What’s the difference between H2-receptors and PPIs?
Blocking H2 means that gastrin and Ach are unaccounted for – they all lead up to the proton pump – inhibition of this step blocks them all. NSAIDS were explained above.
How is epinephrine used to treat stomach ulcers?
Epi (can use NE also) was used here as an injection to control the bleeding by inducing vasoconstriction
What are the three cell types that are important for the exocrine function of the pancreas?
1 - Acinar cells
2 - Duct cells
3 - Goblet cells
What is the function of acinar cells?
Acinar cells are arranged in an acinus – synthesizing protein, secreting digestive enzymes and fluid into the duct (where ductal cells and goblet cells reside)
What is the function of duct cells and goblet cells?
Duct cell secrete bicarb, and transport fluid and ions where goblet cells secrete mucin (which lubricates, hydrates, protects – from acid, and has antimicrobial function).
What is a prototypic pancreatic protease?
- Enzymes secreted from acinar cells of the pancreas
- Released in the inactive form
- Need some sort of modification before they become active
What are some of these enzymes that you need to know?
- Trypsinogen
- Amylase (active)
- Lipase (active)
- Colipase (active)
- Trypsin inhibitor (active)
Trypsinogen
Trypsinogen is one of the primary prototypic pancreatic proteases (measured also for diagnostic function)
Trypsin inhibitor
Trypsin inhibitor inhibits trypsin to protect against activation and subsequent autodigestion (seen in pancreatitis)
Colipase
Colipase regulates lipase
Amylase
Amylase was also seen in saliva – pancreatic amylase is the chief carbohydrate digestion enzyme.
What are the two primary stimuli for fluid and enzyme secretion by pancreatic acinar cells?
- CCK (attaches at CCK-A receptor)
- Ach (attaches at muscarinic receptor)
How are zymogens stored in the pancreas?
- Zymogens are proenzymes – they are synthesized in an inactive form.
- They’re stored in vesicles containing trypsin inhibitor (remember trypsinogen is one of the primary proteases).
- Low pH of the vesicle also prevents activation