Unit VI- Salivation and Gastric Function Flashcards
Hormones
- peptides released from endocrine cells of the GI tract
- they are secreted into the portal circulation, pass through the liver and enter the systemic circulation
- the circulation delivers the hormones to their target cells (e.g parietal cells in the stomach in the case of gastrin)
Paracrines
- secreted by endocrine cells of the GI tract
- they act locally in the same tissue that secretes them
- somatostatin is a paracrine peptide; histamine is not a peptide
Paracrine control in GI system
1) Serotonin: produced by enterochromaffic cells (EC) in intestine in response to distension ; indirectly excites the ENS to increase motility and secretions
2) Somatostatin: produced by D cells and is a potent inhibitor of several processes (pancreatic and gastric secretions, motility); cam act in an endocrine as well as paracrine manner
3) Histamine: released by EC-like cells in stomach; potently stimulates HCl secretion ( H2 receptors)
Neurocrines
- synthesized in neurons in the GI tract and released following an action potential
- after release, they diffuse across the synaptic cleft and act on the target cell
- examples include ACh, Norepi, VIP, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and substance P
GI hormones
- peptides released from cells scattered throughout the GI tract
- with the ANS and paracrine factors, they participate in an integrated response that promotes the digestion and absorption of food
Gastrin
- secreted by antral mucosa cells ( G cells in stomach) in response to food, distension, vagus
- acts to increase acid secretion by parietal cells
- stimulates growth of gastric mucosa
Cholecystokinin/CCK
- secreted by mucosa of intestine (I-cells in duodenum and jejunum) in response to fats and proteins/peptides/amino acids
- acts to increase gall bladder contraction, and increase pancreatic enzyme and bicarbonate secretion (e.g. trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipases, amylases)
- inhibits gastric emptying
Secretin
- secreted by mucosa of small intestine (S-cells in duodenum) in response to the arrival of acidic chyme from the stomach
- acts to increase bicarbonate (HCO3-) and fluid secretion by pancrease
- decreases gastric acid secretion in stomach by decreasing gastrin
- inhibits gastric emptying
Motilin
- secreted by mucosa of small intestine ( M cells in duodenum and jejunum) during the fasting period
- promotes contractions in distal stomach and intestines to clear the tract of indigestible materials
Glucose-dependent insulinomic peptide (GIP)
- secreted by mucosa of small intestine (K cells in duodenum and jejunum) in response to fat and carbohydrates
- acts on pancreas to stimulate insulin secretion, inhibits HCl secretion by parietal cells
Digestive Enzymes
- ingested food and liquid must be converted to a form that can be absorbed by the small intestine. The process of digestion requires the action of multiple enzymes
- for carbs and lipids digestion in mouth by salivary and lingual enzymes: amylase for carbs and some lipase for lipids
- for proteins, digestion initiated in stomach by gastric proteases called pepsin. Additional lipid digestion with swalloed lingual lipase, and some gastric lipase is also secreted.
- small intestine pancreatic enzymes such as lipase (lipids), chymotrypsin (protein), amylase (carbs)
- enzymes on luminal surface of small intestine (brush border disaccharidases and dipeptidases complete digestion of carbs and proteins (membrane digestion)
Salivon
- physiological secretory unit,similar in structure to the pancrease
- 1.5L saliva is secreted per day
- acinar cells of the parotid glands secrete a serous substance rich in alpha mylase, 25% of saliva
- acinar cells of the sublingual (5%) and submandibular (70%( secrete a seromucous product rich in mucin glycoproteins
Lubrication functions of saliva
- moistening the mouth to prevent dehydration or the oral mucosa
- lubricating the food to aid in swallowing. It depends on the presence of mucous in saliva
Protective functions of saliva
- saliva flow across the teeth helps to clear bacteria
- saliva contains substances that reduce bacterial growth (lysozyme, IgA-binding protein)
Digestive functions of saliva
- relatively minor
- salivary amylase (ptyalin) is identical to pancreatic amylase
- ptyalin converts starch to sugar at pH optimum of 7; denatured below pH 4 in stomach
- lingual lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides and is secreted by small salivary glands on the tongue surface
Sjogren syndrome
-chronic and progressive autoimmune disease that destroys the salivary and lacrimal glands
Xerostomia
- dry mouth
- results from inadequate saliva production and typically leads to difficulty speaking due to poor lubrication and dental caries and halitosis due to bacterial overgrowth
Transport of saliva
- at low (basal) flow rates, Na+ and Cl- are absorbed and K+ is secreted by the duct cells of most salivary glands= K+-rich, hypotonic salivary secretion at rest
- the tightness of the ductal epithelium inhibits paracellular water movement contributing to the hypotonic product
- at high flow rates, saliva is more like plasma (because the ductular transport processes have limited capacity to handle the increased load)
- High HCO3 makes saliva more alkaline, neutralize gastric acid
- aldosterone is only humoral agent to affect salivation, stimulating Na+ reabsorption and K+ secretion by the salivary glands
Salivary Acinar Cells
- during salivary secretion, blood flow to the acini is increased by PNS stimulation and ultrafiltrate from plasma (mostly serous fluid) enters the acini
- filtrate from the cells enters the lumen of the acinar cells mixing with secreted mucus and alpha amylase creating primary secretion
- the secretion is modified as it passes through the ducts into the mouth
- lingual lipase (secreted from the Von Ebner’s glands of the tongue) is added to the saliva in the mouth
-mouth K+ stays pretty constant with flow of saliva, Na and Cl increase a lot, HCO3-
ANS and Salivary
- salivary secretion is unaffected by gastrointestinal hormones and is controlled by autonomic innervation
- PNS- increased and sustained salivary secretion in which flow is increased 10x over the basal rate
- SNS- causes a lesser and more transient stimulation, sympathetic nerves originate from the superior cervical ganglia and travel along the surfaces of the blood vessel walls to the salivary glands
- activation of salivary glands causes release of kallikrein, resulting in the production of the potent vasodilator bradykinin from its precursors; vasodilation increases capillary hydrostatic pressure and capillary filtration, thereby supplying the fluid for secretion
- salivation reflex can be conditioned (Pavlov)