GI Tract Secretion Flashcards
Acid Secretion in stomach
HCl
- kills bacteria (disinfects food @ pH 1.0, stomach @ pH of 2)
- begins protein digestion: denatures proteins and activates pepsinogen (active= pepsin)
- acid producing parietal cells also secrete intrinsic factor when secreting acid (vitamin B12 absorption)
- Energy consuming process: H/K ATPase pumps across the luminal surface against significant gradient (high amount of mitochondria in these cells.)
Mucosal defenses in the stomach
HCl secretion is risky so body has mechanisms to confine acidity to stomach as much as possible
- Mucus layer and alkaline (HCO3-) layer at the cell surface (surface mucus cells) protects the stomach lining– prostaglandins can increase mucus production
- tight junctions prevent acid from infiltrating the layers of the wall
- rapid cell turnover maintains surface integrity
Parietal (oxyntic) cell
produces HCl and Intrinsic Factor
IF and Vit B12 absorption
- B12 is imp for RBC production
- B12 binds salivary R protein in stomach
- Pancreatic proteases remove R protein in duodenum
- IF from stomach binds B12 in duodenum
- IF/B12 complex binds to receptor in terminal ileum for absorption (the receptor is for IF)
Phases of HCl secretion
Interdigestive (basal) phase: between meals following circadian rhythm (highest in evening, lowest in morning b/f waking)
Cephalic phase: mostly neural regulation
gastric phase: initially neural followed by endocrin (gastrin) and neural regulation.
Intestinal phase: mostly endocrine regulation
Parietal Cell receptors
Acid secretion is stimulated by ACh, gastrin, and histamine
Histamine: H2 (increases adenylate cyclase–>cAMP)
ACh: M3 (muscarinic rec)
Gastrin: CCK-B
ACh and gastrin act by increasing intracell Ca.
Ca and cAMP activate protein kinases that phosphorylate H/K ATPase (direct path)
Indirect path: , ACh and gastrin stimulate the ECL (enterochromaffin-like) cells, resulting in secretion of histamine. This histamine then acts on the parietal cell
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) RFs
- NSAID use (aspirin, ibuprofen) (COX inhibitor, need for PG production–>mucus secretion)
- tumors (Zollinger Ellison Syndrome)
ex. gastrinoma (in duodenum, produces lots of gastrin) - Helicobacter pylori (stuck in mucus, activates immune system as part of activation epithelial cells)
H+ and HCO3- transport out of cell and consequence of acid secretion
- H/K ATPase
- primary active transport
HCO3- in exchange for Cl- (Cl/HCO3- anion exchanger)
-secondary active transport
(Cl then leaves cell via passive transport and H2O follows– transcellular)
Consequence of acid secretion: pH of venous blood leaving the stomach is high (because of HCO3- transport): alkaline tide.
Phases of gastric acid secretion
- basal (inter-digestive phase): follows circadian rhythm (lowest secretion in morning, highest in evening)
- cephalic phase: initiated by sight/smell/taste/swallowing of food; vagus nerve (leads to 1. ACh release, 2. triggering of histamine release from ECL cells, 3. release of gastrin-releasing peptide from vagal and ENS, 4. inhib of somatostatin release from delta cells in stomach)
- gastric phase: entry of food into stomach (stomach distends–> vasovagal reflex and ENS reflex; partially digested proteins stimulate antral gastrin cells which release gastrin)
- intestinal phase: aa and partially digested peptides in proximal portion of SI stim acid sec by stimulating duodenal gastrin cells to secrete gastrin)
Protective barrier of gastric surface
Mucosal barrier and bicarbonate secretion protect mucosa from acid.
The barrier is also prevents diffusional dissipation of the enormous pH gradient
Barrier: surface epithelial cells, mucous (from goblet cells and mucous neck cells), bicarb
Chloride secretion in SI
via cells in crypts
(increased Cl secretion in crypt pushes antimicrobial peptide from paneth cells towards surface where it can act on bacteria)
Digestion
the process of breaking down food into an absorbable form
-some in mouth, stomach, but most in lumen or at surface of absorptive cells (enterocytes)
Absorption
process by which food molecs are transported across the enterocyte membrane (transcellular/cellular) or between cells (paracellular) and into blood or lymph
Largest source of carbs in our diet
plant starch amylopectin
amylase is thus the major enzyme in saliva and pancreatic secretions
Products of amylose/amylopectin digestion: maltose, maltotriose, and alpha-limit dextrin
(sucrose and lactose can be digested at surface of enterocyte)
Which type of sugars can be absorbed?
simple monomeric sugars**
polymers cannot be absorbed
isomaltase
(alpha dextrinase)
converts alpha-limit dextrins to glucose
enterocyte surface