Gastric Physiology Flashcards
Functions of the stomach
Store and mix food
Dissolve and continue digestion
Regulate emptying into duodenum
Kill microbes
Secrete proteases
Secrete intrinsic factor
Activate proteases
Lubrication
Mucosal protection
Key cell types in a stomach
Mucous cells
Parietal cells
Chief cells
Enteroendocrine cells
Gastric acid secretion
Hydrochloric acid by parietal cells
Energy dependent
Neurohumoural regulation
Approximate production of HCl per day
2 litres/day
[H+] of gastric acid secretion
[H+] > 150mM
Cephalic phase stimulation
Parasympathetic nervous system- vagus nerve
Sight, smell, taste of food and chewing
Cephalic phase net effect
Increased acid production
Cephalic phase mechanism
Acetylcholine release
ACh acts directly on parietal cells
ACh triggers release of gastrin and histamine
Purpose of intrinsic factor
Binds to vitamin B12
Aids absorption in terminal ileum
Moderated by same regulators of gastric acid secretion
Gastric phase net effect
Increased acid production
Gastric phase mechanism
Activates chemoreceptors to stimulate G cells
Gastrin release
Gastrin acts directly on parietal cells
Gastrin triggers release of histamine
Histamine acts directly on parietal cells
Gastric phase stimulation
Gastric distension
Presence of peptides and amino acids
Histamine in gastric acid secretion
Acts directly on parietal cells
Also mediates effects of gastrin and acetylcholine
Gastric acid secretion
water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) combine within the parietal cell cytoplasm to produce carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is catalysed by carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic acid then spontaneously dissociates into a hydrogen ion (H+) and a bicarbonate ion (HCO3–).
The hydrogen ion that is formed is transported into the stomach lumen via the H+– K+ ATPase ion pump. This pump uses ATP as an energy source to exchange potassium ions into the parietal cells of the stomach with H+ ions.
The bicarbonate ion is transported out of the cell into the blood via a transporter protein called anion exchanger which transports the bicarbonate ion out the cell in exchange for a chloride ion (Cl–). This chloride ion is then transported into the stomach lumen via a chloride channel.
This results in both hydrogen and chloride ions being present within the stomach lumen. Their opposing charges leads to them associating with each other to form hydrochloric acid (HCl).
Which nerve is stimulated in cephalic phase
Vagus nerve
Gastric distension
Acts on stomach stretch receptors
Stimulates local and vagovagal reflexes
Protein in the stomach
Direct stimulus for gastrin release
Proteins in the lumen act as a buffer, mopping up H+ ions, causing pH to rise
Effect of rise in pH of gastric acid
Decreased secretion of somatostatin
More parietal cell activity (lack of inhibition)
Inhibitin of cephalic phase
Lack of vagal stimulation
Result of decreased appetite and depression
Inhibition of gastric phase
Low luminal pH (high [H+])
- directly inhibits gastrin secretion
- indirectly inhibits histamine release via gastrin
- stimulates somatostatin release which inhibits parietal cell activity
Negative feedback loop
Causes of inhibition of gastric phase
Excessive acidity
No food in the stomach to buffer
Reduce parietal cell activity by reducing channel expression
Emotional distress: sympathetic overrides parasympathetic stimulation
Intestinal phase of gastric acid secretion
Chyme in duodenum
Inhibition of gastric secretion by intestinal phase stimulation
Duodenal distension
Low luminal pH
Hypertonic luminal contents
Presence of amino acids and fatty acids
Inhibition of gastric secretion by intestinal phase mechanism
Triggers release of entergastrones
- secretin
- Cholecystokinin
And short and long neural pathways, reducing ACh release
Secretin
Inhibitis gastrin release
Promotes somatostatin release
Stimulation of intestinal phase
Low pH
Partially digested food present
Release of intestinal gastrin
Overall effect = increased acid secretion
4 chemicals that regulate gastric acid secretion by second messengers
Gastrin
Acetylcholine
Histamine
Somatostatin - inhibition
Regulation of gastric acid secretion overview
Controlled by brain, stomach, duodenum
1 (parasympathetic) neurotransmitter (ACh +)
1 hormone (gastrin +)
2 paracrine factors (histamine +, somatostatin -)
2 key enterogastrones (secretin -, CCK -)
Peptic ulcers
An ulcer is a breach in a mucosal surface
Caused by action of gastric acid
Causes of peptic ulcers
Helicobacter pylori infection
Drugs - NSAIDS
Chemical irritants- alcohol, bile salts, dietary factors
Gastrinoma
How does the gastric mucosa defend itself
Alkaline mucus- bicarbonate-rich
Tight junctions between epithelial cells
Replacement of damaged cells
Feedback loops
Helicobacter pylori lives in…
Lives in gastric mucus
Helicobacter pylori mechanism
Secretes urease, splitting urea into CO2 and ammonia
Ammonia + H+ = ammonium
Ammonium, secreted proteases, phospholipases and vacuolating cytotoxic A damage gastric epithelium
Inflammatory response
Reduced mucosal defence
Where do peptic ulcers occur
Stomach, duodenum, oesophagus
NSAIDs examples
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Mucus secretion is stimulated by prostaglandin
Cyclo-oxygenase 1 needed for prostaglandin synthesis
NSAIDs inhibit cyclo-oxygenase 1
Reduced mucosal defence
Peptic ulcers- bile salts
Duodeno-gastric reflux
Regurgitated bile strips away mucus layer
Reduced mucosal defence
Treating peptic ulcer disease- Helicobacter pylori
Eradicate the organism
Triple therapy:
1 Proton pump inhibitor
2 Antibiotics eg clarithromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, metronidazole
Treating peptic ulcer disease- NSAIDs
Prostaglandin analogues - misoprostol
Reduce acid secretion
Proton pump inhibitors in parietal cells
Omeprazole
Lansoprazole
Esmeprazole
H2 receptor (histamine) antagonists in parietal cells
Cimetidine
Ranitidine
What produces pepsinogen
Chief cells
Zymogen
Pepsinogen- Inactive form of pepsin
Synthesised by chief cells
What mediates pepsinogen
Input from enteric nervous system (ACh)
Protease secretion
Secretion parallels HCl secretion
Luminal activation
Protease activation
Conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin is pH dependent
Most efficient when pH<2
Positive feedback loop - pepsin also catalyses the reaction
Pepsin only active at low pH- irreversible inactivation in small intestine by HCO3 -
A 27 year old man presents to his General Practitioner with a three week history of worsening epigastric pain. The pain is made worse in between meals, and is relieved by antacids. The GP suspects the patient has a peptic ulcer.
Which of the following is a neurotransmitter that up-regulates the secretion of gastric acid by parietal cells?.
Acetylcholine
The GP prescribes the patient a drug that increases gastric mucus production. Which drug has this action?
Misoprostol
Which of the following is a hormone that increases gastric acid secretion by parietal cells?
Gastrin
Passage of chyme into the duodenum triggers a reduction in gastric acid secretion. Which of the following duodenal factors triggers the release of enterogastrones?
Presence of luminal fatty acids
Which of the following is an enterogastrone that causes gastric parietal cells to downregulate gastric acid secretion?
Cholecystokinin
To activators of pepsin activation
Low pH (HCl)
Pepsin- positive feedback loop
Role of pepsin in protein digestion
Not essential
Accelerates protein digestion
Normally accounts for 20% of total protein digestion
Breaks down collagen in meat - helps shred meat into smaller pieces with greater surface area for digestion
Gastric motility- volume of empty stomach
50mL
Total volume of food stomach can accommodate
1.5L with little increase in luminal pressure
Due to receptive relaxation of smooth muscle in body and fundus
Receptive relaxation of stomach
Mediated by parasympathetic nervous system on enteric nerve plexuses
Coordination of receptive relaxation
Afferent input via vagus nerve
What mediates receptive relaxation
Nitric oxide and serotonin released by enteric nerves
Peristalsis - body of stomach
Peristaltic waves begin in gastric body
Weak contraction in body (little mixing)
Peristalsis- gastric antrum and pylorus
More powerful contraction in gastric antrum
Pylorus closes as peristaltic wave reaches it
Peristalsis - retroperistalsis
Little chyme enters duodenum
Antral contents forced back towards body (mixing)
Pace of basic electrical rhythm of peristalsis
3/minute
What determines frequency of peristaltic waves
Pacemaker cells in muscularis propria
Pacemaker cells undergo slow depolarisation- repolarisation cycles
Depolarisation waves transmitted through gao junctions to adjacent smooth muscle cells
Do not cause significant contraction in empty stomach
Strength of peristaltic contractions varies
Excitatory neurotransmitters and hormones further depolarise membranes
Action potentials generated when threshold reached
Interstitial cells of Cajal
Pacemaker cells of the stomach in muscularis propria
Strength of peristaltic contractions increased by:
Gastrin
Gastric distension mediated by mechanoreceptors
Strength of peristaltic contractions decreased by:
Duodenal distension
Increased duodenal luminal fat
Increased duodenal osmolarity
Decreased duodenal luminal pH
Increased sympathetic NS action
Decreased parasympathetic NS action
Gastric emptying
Capacity of stomach > capacity of duodenum
Dumping syndrome
Overfilling of duodenum by a hypertonic solutiom
Dumping syndrome signs and symptoms
Vomiting
Bloating
Cramps
Diarrhoea
Dizziness
Fatigue
Weakness
Sweating
Gastroparesis
Delayed gastric emptying
Causes of gastroparesis
Idiopathic
Autonomic neuropathies (e.g. in Diabetes mellitus)
Drugs
Abdominal surgery
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Scleroderma
Amyloidosis
Female gender
Gastrointestinal agents- gastroparesis
Aluminium hydroxide antacids
H2 receptor antagonists
Proton pump inhibitors
Sucralfate