Gastric Secretion

Gastric secretion

• Gastric secretion (Gastric juice):

The digestive fluid secreted by the glands of the
stomach., a thin colorless, acidic liquid containing
primarily hydrochloric acid, pepsinogen, and intrinsic
factor plus mucus.

Gastric juice convert the gastric contents to a

semiliquid mass called chyme.

PH is low, about 0.7 -3.8

 The composition of gastric juice

• The gastric juice consists of 99.5% of H2O and

0.5% of dry rest. Dry rest includes 0.4% of
inorganic compounds – HCl, salts; 0.1% of
organic compounds. Organic compounds are
represent by: 1) enzymes (pepsin, gastricsin,
lipase); 2) glycoproteins (mucines, Casle’s
factor); 3) organic acids with a few atoms of
carbon, for example butyric acid, acetic acid,
propionic acid ect.
The stomach is a small, 'J'-shaped pouch with walls made
of thick, elastic muscles, which stores and helps break
down food

The stomach is divided into 4 section

The inner surface of the stomach is thrown
Into long folds called rogue.

 Microscopic examination of
the gastric mucosa shows that is
likewise folded.
The openings of these folds
into the stomach lumen are called
gastric pits.

 The cells that line the folds deeper in the mucosa

secrete various products into the stomach, these cells
form the exocrine gastric glands.
- Gastric glands contain several types of cells that secrete different
products:

● Goblet cells: secrete mucus

● Parietal cells: principally secrete hydrochloric acid

(HCl) and intrinsic factor.

 Function of HCl:
1- Makes gastric juice very acidic
2-This acid is important for activation of pepsinogen
( Pepsin is more active at pH about 2.0 .)
3 - inactivation of ingested microorganisms such as bacteria.
4 - Denatures ingested proteins (alter the tertiary structure)
so they become more digestible.

 The intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein secreted by

parietal cells that is necessary for intestinal absorption
of vitamin B12.
●Chief cells: secrete pepsinogen
Once secreted, pepsinogen is activated by stomach acid
into the active protease pepsin, which is largely
responsible for the stomach's ability to initiate digestion of
proteins.

●G cells:
Secrete the hormone gastrin into the blood
(Gastrin is a hormone that stimulate acid secretion by the
stomach).

●D cells:
secrete the hormone somatostatin.
 - The exocrine secretions of the gastric cells,
together with large amount of water form a highly
acidic solution known as gastric juice .
 Composition of gastric secretions

• Gastric juice is a mixture of water ,HCl , electrolytes

and organic substances.
• The gastric juice is 97-99% water
• The remainder consist of inorganic salts ,and
organic components that include ,mucin, digestive
enzymes
(e.g., pepsin).
Basic Mechanism of Hydrochloric Acid Secretion.

The parietal cells secrete hydrochloric acid with a pH of

approximately 0.8 .

At this PH the hydrogen ion concentration is about four

million times that of the arterial blood.
As a result of contact with gastric HCI, proteins are
denatured; i.e, the tertiary protein structure is lost as
a result of the destruction of hydrogen bonds.

This allows the polypeptide chain to unfold , making

it more accessible to the actions of proteolytic
enzymes (proteases).

 The low pH also has the effect of destroying most

microorganisms entering the gastrointestinal
tract.
 Secretion of Pepsin.
The principal enzyme secreted by the peptic cells is pepsin.

This is formed inside the cells in the form of pepsinogen, which has
no digestive activity. However, once pepsinogen is secreted and
comes in contact with previously formed pepsin in the presence of
hydrochloric acid, it is immediately activated to form active pepsin.

Pepsin is an active proteolytic enzyme (for digesting proteins) in a

highly acid medium (optimum pH = 2.0), but above a pH of about 5
it has little proteolytic activity and soon becomes completely
inactivated.

Therefore, hydrochloric acid secretion is just as necessary as pepsin

secretion for protein digestion in the stomach.
Rennin (Chymosin, Rennet)
Coagulates Milk

Rennin is important in the digestive process of infants because

it prevents the rapid passage of milk from the stomach.

In the presence of calcium, rennin changes the casein of milk

irreversibly to a paracasein, which is then acted on by pepsin.

Rennin is reported to be absent from the stomach of adults.

 Secretion of Mucus in the Stomach.
• The pyloric glands are structurally similar to the gastric glands,
but contain very few peptic and parietal cells.
Instead, they contain mainly mucous cells that are identical
with the mucous neck cells of the gastric glands.

• These cells secrete a thin mucus, which protects the stomach

wall from digestion by the gastric enzymes.

• In addition, the surface of the stomach mucosa between the

gastric and pyloric glands has a continuous layer of mucous cells
that secrete large quantities of a far more viscid and alkaline
mucus that coats the mucosa with a mucous gel layer over 1
mm. thick, thus providing a major shell of protection for the
stomach wall as well as contributing to lubrication of food
transport.
 HCl
• converts pepsinogen to pepsin for chemical digestion
• provides optimal pH environment for pepsin
• destroys some bacteria
• promotes the absorption of Fe2+

 Pepsinogen (precursor of pepsin)

digestion of proteins

 Mucus
forms a protective barrier

 Intrinsic factor
for intestinal absorption of vitamin B12.
 Regulation of Gastric Secretion

Neural and hormonal mechanisms regulate the

release of gastric juice.

Regulation of gastric secretion is divided into three

phases:
- The cephalic phase
- The gastric phase
- The intestinal phase
• The cephalic phase:
- smelling, chewing, and swallowing food sends
impulses via specific nerves to the stomach.
-This cause acid secretion from parietal cells and
gastrin release from G cells (in which gastrin
indirectly stimulating parietal cell acid secretion).
• The gastric phase
is mainly result of gastric distention (when food enter
stomach)
-Distention of the stomach stimulates the parietal cells.
• The intestinal phase
responds to arriving chyme, and moderates gastric
activity
Stimulation of Gastric secretion by Gastrin
When food enters the stomach, or when the nerves are
stimulated, the antral portion of the stomach mucosa
secretes the hormone gastrin, a large polypeptide.

 The food causes release of this hormone in two ways:

(1) The actual bulk of the food distends the stomach, and
this causes the hormone to be released.
(2) Certain substances – such as, partially digested
proteins, caffeine, and so forth – also cause gastrin to
be liberated from the antral mucosa.
o Gastrin is absorbed into the blood and carried out into
the gastric glands, where it stimulates mainly the parietal
cells but to a slight extent the peptic (Chief) cells also.

o The parietal cells increase their rate of hydrochloric acid

secretion as much as eight-fold, and the peptic cells
increase their rate of enzyme secretion two-to four-fold.

Histamine, present in gastric mucosal cells also stimulates

acid secretion.
The concept about acidity of gastric juice
The acidity of gastric juice is a sum of all acidic
compounds of gastric juice. The acidity is measured by
titrated units (TU). TU is a quantity of milliliter of 0.1
normal solution of sodium hydroxide using on
neutralization of acidic products in 100 ml of gastric
juice. TU can be signed as ml/100ml or mM/L. There
are total acidity (40-60TU), free acidity (20-40TU),
coupled acidity (8-12TU). The state in which the free
acidity is not found is named as achlorhydria. When
the total acidity and pepsin are not found, so we talk
about achylia. The state, in which there is a little free
and total acidity is named as hypochlorhydria. When
the level of total and free acidity is big, so we talk
about hyperchlorhydria.
 Possible changes of physical properties of gastric
juice
The increasing of acidity and amount of gastric
juice is observed in gastritis with increased acidity
and in ulcer’s sickness. The decreasing of acidity
and amount of gastric juice is observed in gastritis
with decreased acidity and in cancer of gaster. The
color can be also changed. For example, red color
is observed in lung’s bleeding; brown color is
observed in gaster’s bleeding; yellow or slightly
green color is observed in hit of bile in gaster.
Putrid odor can be observed in congestive
appearance of cancer etc.
Pathologic constituents of gastric juice
Blood, bile and lactate are pathologic constituents of
gastric juice. Blood is appeared in gastric juice in ulcer
and cancer of gaster, bleeding from lung and gaster. Bile
is appeared in gastritis with decreased acidity and
achlorhydria (for example, in cancer), achylia (for
example, in cancer). Lactate is appeared in gastric juice in
gastritis with decreased acidity and achlorhydria (for
example, in cancer), achylia (for example, in cancer).
These constituents can be investigated by using of
following tests: for the blood – Benzidine’s test; for the
bile – Pettencoffer’s reaction; for the lactate – Ufelman’s
reaction.
 Acid gastric reflux ( heart burn)
Too much acid gives a feeling of heart burn know as acid
gastric reflux

 There is back flow of stomach content (acid) upward

into esophagus
 symptoms: pain and inflammation.

Gerd: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder

( extreme reflux)

 Can be associated with certain food, medication

 20% of adult have heart burn
 Treatment

 1- Prevent acid from being secreted

 antacid main ingredient (Mg⁺² )

neutralize the acid by increasing the PH to 3
( short acting)

 2- Long Acting Medication

 Peptic ulcers
Erosions of the mucous membranes of the stomach or

duodenum produced by action of HCl.

Causes:
Ulcers can be caused by:
• Infection with a type of bacteria called
Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori).
• Use of anti-inflamatory drugs such as aspirin.
• tumors
 Symptoms:
When symptoms occur, they may include:
- burning pain in the middle or upper stomach between
meals or at night.
- Nausea, vomiting
-In severe cases:
-dark or black stool (due to bleeding)
- severe pain in the middle to upper abdomen
- it can be treated by:
By medicines: • to kill the H. Pylori bacteria (if present)
• to reduce acid levels in the stomach.
 Peptic Carcinoma
• Stomach cancer begins when cancer cells form
in the inner lining of your stomach. These cells
can grow into a tumor. Also called gastric
cancer, the disease usually grows slowly over
many years
 What Causes Stomach Cancer?

• Scientists don’t know exactly what makes cancer

cells start growing in the stomach. But they do know
a few things that can raise your risk for the disease.
1. Infection with a common bacteria, H. pylori, which
causes ulcers.
2. Inflammation in your gut called gastritis.
3. Long-lasting anemia.
4. Growths in your stomach called polyps also can
make you more likely to get cancer
Other things that seem to play a role in raising the risk include:

• Smoking
• Being overweight or obese
• A diet high in smoked, pickled, or salty foods
• Stomach surgery for an ulcer
• Certain genes
• Working in coal, metal, timber, or rubber
industries
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKuNokt9
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