GI Function and Regulation Flashcards
What are the four main functions of the GI tract?
Motility
Secretion
Digestion
Absorption
Where does the bulk of absorption occur?
small intestine
T or F. Practically the entire GI tract is colonized by bacteria
T. 99% in the large intestine and rectum, and none usually in the stomach due to the acidic nature
The epithelium is polarized both functional and structural with the basal membrane being attached to the BM and the apical membrane being formed into many microvilli (aka brush border)
What are the main cells of the epithelium?
the absorptive, endocrine, goblet, and M cells
Describe the anatomy of GI epithelium
it is folded heavily into finger-like villi with intermittent, depression-like crypts which house the stem-cells of the epithelium. The epithelium sloughs and is renewed about every 3-4 days
How does blood flow to the GI change after a meal?
increases up to 8x
NOTE: This effect can be so pronounced as to decrease peripheral BP after/during a meal/heavy stomach activity
What mediates the increase in GI blood flow during/after a meal?
secretion of mucosal vasodilators, such as CCK, VIP, gastrin, and secretin
Kallidin is secreted and activiates bradykinin, a potent vasodilator
And the reduced O2 concentration to the heavy metabolic activity might result in increased blood flow
How might villi respond to chronic levels of low oxygen?
Because there is a continuous arterial-to-venous blood shunt that occurs along the vertical path of the villi that even under normal circumstances shunts 80% of oxygenated blood into venous circulation without perfusing the villi, a. hypoxia would exacerbate this shunt and lead to villi necrosis
How is the GI blood flow regulated?
Parasympathetic increased blood flow and sympathetic decreases
Describe the parasympathetic innervation of the GI
this mostly consists of the efferent and affarent fibers of the vagus and pelvic nerves from the brain and sacral regions of the spinal cord.
Describe the sympathetic innervation of the GI
Neurons in the spinal cord synapse in the celiac, SM, and IM ganglia, which then use another set of ANS fibers to synapse into the GI organs
Where is the myenteric plexus located?
between the circular and longitudinal layers of smooth muscle in the muscularis externa
The enteric system can allow the GI to function even in the absence of central neural input
What neurotransmitters function in the extrnsic nervous system of the GI? Intrinsic?
Extrinsic- Ach and NE
Intrinsic- Substance P and VIP
What are the main functions of substance P and VIP?
Substance P is activating to the GI smooth muscle, and VIP is inhibitory
What are the main types of neurotransmitter systems in the GI?
Endocrine (e.g. gastrin)
Paracrine (e.g. histamine)
Neurocrine
What are the 5 major GI hormones?
Gastrin
CCK
GIP
Secretin
Motilin
What are the candidate (i.e. the physiologic function is not completely established yet) GI hormones?
Pancreatic polypeptides
Neurotension
Substance P
Glucagon
Somatostatin
What are the main criteria for GI hormones?
- stimulation and activity seen in different parts of the GI
- Effective in the absence of nerves (ie not neurocrine)
- Can be isolated from the site of stimulation
- Substance and structure confirmed
What are the major groups of GI hormones?
-based on structure homology
gastrin-family (gastrin, CCK)
secretin family (secretin, VIP, GIP, and Glucagon)
Describe the structure of Gastrin
It is a 17 AA peptide that is aminated at the C-terminal and cyclized at the N-terminal, which both make the peptide VERY stable (cant be broken down by carboxypeptides, aminopeptidases, etc.)
NOTE: Gastrin is originally synthesized as a 34-AA pro-gastrin structure in the G-cells in the stomach, which produce a protease to produce a glycine-exteded gastrin, which does NOT act on CCK-2 receptors (may have other receptors). Amination of the C-terminal removes the glycine to produce active G-17
What is the minimum sequence required for biologic activity of Gastrin?
Trp-Met-Asp-Phe (NH2) at the C-terminal.
What is the main function of gastrin?
to stimulate perietal cells to secrete gastric acid via binding to the gastrin/CCK-2 receptors (not CCK-1 receptors)