Pancreatic Function and Secretion

Pancreatic Function
By: Dr. Kevin Pawlak, PhD

Objectives
• Pancreatic Secretion
• Exocrine Pancreas
• Pancreatic Juice Formation
• CCK and control of CCK Secretion
• Action of Secretin
• Potentiating effects of Hormones
• GIP, VIP, Glucagon and GLP-1
Pancreas
• Lies posterior to stomach
– From duodenum toward spleen
• Is bound to posterior wall of
abdominal cavity
• Is wrapped in thin, connective tissue
capsule
Functions of the Pancreas
1. Endocrine cells (10%) of the
pancreatic islets:
• Secrete insulin and glucagon
into bloodstream
2. Exocrine cells (90%):
• Acinar cells and epithelial
cells of duct system secrete
pancreatic juice
The exocrine cells in the pancreas play a central role in the
production of digestive enzymes
Pancreatic Secretion
• The pancreatic exocrine secretion is
approximately 1 liters of fluid per day
• The secretion is made of 2 components
1.Aqueous component – Fluid rich in
Bicarbonates
2.Enzymatic component – Fluid rich in digestive
enzymes
Exocrine Pancreas
• Accounts for 90% of the total
mass of the pancreas
• The exocrine pancreas is like a
bunch of grapes, with each
grape corresponding to a
single acinus
• The acinus which is a blind end
of a branching duct system is
lined with acinar cells that
secrete the enzymatic portion
of the pancreatic secretion
• Ductal cells extend into a
special region of the acinus.
These extending cells are
called as Centro-acinar cells
Pancreas
•Pancreatic Enzymes •Pancreatic Enzymes
–Pancreatic alpha-amylase –Nucleases
•A carbohydrase •Break down nucleic acids
•Breaks down starches –Proteolytic enzymes
•Similar to salivary amylase •Break certain proteins apart
–Pancreatic lipase •Proteases break large protein
•Breaks down complex lipids complexes
•Releases products (e.g., fatty acids) that •Peptidases break small peptides
are easily absorbed into amino acids
•70% of all pancreatic enzyme
production
•Secreted as inactive proenzymes
•Activated after reaching small
intestine
Exocrine Pancreas
• Enzymes are produced and secreted in excess.
• However, nutrition problems will arise if production of pancreatic
enzymes falls by as little as 10%, or if outflow of pancreatic juice is
obstructed.
Pancreas
• Exocrine function
– Secretes pancreatic juice which breaks down all categories
of foodstuff
– Acini (clusters of secretory cells) contain zymogen granules
with digestive enzymes
• The pancreas also has an

endocrine function – release
of insulin and glucagon
Acinus of the Pancreas

Pancreatic Juice Formation
Acinar cells secrete proteins into lumen; water & salts follow from blood
Ductal cells modify secretions of the Acinar cells – add HCO3-
Acinar Cells
Respond to CCK, VIP, GRP &
Acetylcholine Na+ K+
Ductule Cells
Respond to
Cl- HCO3- Secretin
& Acetylcholine
Action of CCK
• Gall bladder contraction,
sphincter of Oddi relaxation
• ↑ pancreatic enzyme
secretion
• Augment effect of secretin
in producing alkaline
pancreatic juice
• ↓ gastric emptying
• Trophic effect on pancreas
Action of CCK
• ↑ secretion of enterokinase
• ↑ motility of small intestine and colon
• Augment contraction of pyloric sphincter (↓
duodenal reflux)
• ↑ glucagon secretion (work with gastrin)
• Induced satiety by acting through
hypothalamus
Mechanism of Action
Control of CCK Secretion
• Most potent
stimulator of CCK
release is lipid
• Peptides, amino
acid also increase
CCK release
• Also secreted in
response to CCK-
releasing factor
Partially digested
protein & fat
Enzyme rich
juice
I cell
CCK
CCK-releasing Peptide
• CCK-RP is secreted from duodenal mucosa
• Secreted in response to fat, protein
digestive products, and also to neural
input (cephalic phase)
• Degraded by pancreatic trypsin (if there
are proteins in duodenum, these peptides
won’t be degraded and CCK will be
released )
Action of Secretin
• Most potent humoral stimulator of fluid
and HCO3 secretion by pancreas
• Acts in concert with CCK, Ach to stimulate
HCO3 secretion
• ↑ HCO3 secretion by duct cells of
pancreas and biliary tract→ ↑secretion
of a watery, alkaline pancreatic juice
• Acting through cAMP
-
Secretin stimulates HCO3 secretion
in the pancreatic ducts when S
cells detect that acid is present
in the duodenum
Secretin Receptors are Densely Expressed

on Pancreatic Ductular Cells in Humans
Action of Secretin
• ↑ pancreatic enzyme secretion (augment CCK)
• ↓ gastric acid secretion
• Pyloric sphincter contraction
• Stimulate growth of exocrine pancreas (work
with CCK)
Control of Secretin Secretion
• Secretin is secreted in response to protein
digestive products, bile acid, fatty food and
increased acidity in duodenal content (pH<
4.5-5)
• Inhibited by somatostatin and Met-
enkephalin
• Secretin release may be mediated by
secretin-releasing peptide
Acidic chyme
Alkaline juice
S cell
Secretin
Action of Secretin & CCK in Pancreas
Potentiating Effects of
Hormones
• When both the hormones (Secretin &
CCK) are acting together, the pancreatic
secretion is far greater than the sum of
the secretions caused by each one
separately
• One is said to ‘potentiate’ other
Regulation of Pancreatic Secretion
• Secretin and CCK are released when fatty or acidic chyme
enters the duodenum
• CCK and secretin enter the bloodstream
• Upon reaching the pancreas:
– CCK induces the secretion of enzyme-rich pancreatic
juice
– Secretin causes secretion of bicarbonate-rich pancreatic
juice
• Vagal stimulation also causes release of pancreatic juice
Regulation of Pancreatic Secretion
Gastric Inhibitory Peptide - GIP
• Mild effect in decreasing gastric motility
• Inhibit gastric acid secretion by directly inhibit
parietal cells or indirectly inhibit gastrin release
from antral G cells (via somatostatin)
• Stimulate insulin release from pancreatic islet in
response to duodenal glucose and fatty acid
• Oral glucose can stimulate larger amount of
insulin release than IV glucose
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1)
• Intestinal
hormone
secreted in
response to
nutrient
ingestion
which
potentiate
glucose-
induced
insulin
release
Glucagon
• Produced by alpha cell of pancreatic islet
• Action :
• Increase glycogenolysis
• Increase gluconeogenesis hyperglycemia
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - VIP
• ↑ secretion of Electrolytes and water from
small bowel
• Intestinal circular smooth ms relaxation
• Longitudinal smooth muscle contraction
• ↑ pancreatic secretion
• Inhibit gastric acid secretion and motility
Action of Somatostatin
• Inhibit secretion of gastrin, VIP, GIP, secretin,
motilin, GH, insulin, glucagon
• ↑ fluid absorption and ↓ secretion from intestine
• ↓ endocrine and exocrine pancreatic secretion
• ↓ bile flow and gall bladder contraction
• ↓ gastric acid secretion and motility
• ↓ absorption of glucose, amino acid, triglyceride
Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Causes malnutrition since digestion of

carbohydrates, fats & proteins is severely affected
• Decreased digestion of fats due to lipase deficiency
causes bulky, greasy, pale, foul-smelling feces
(Steatorrhea)
• What other reasons might cause a patient develop
Steatorrhea?
Review
• Pancreatic Secretion
• Exocrine Pancreas
• Pancreatic Juice Formation
• CCK and control of CCK Secretion
• Action of Secretin
• Potentiating effects of Hormones
• GIP, VIP, Glucagon and GLP-1

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Pancreatic Function and Secretion

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Pancreatic Function

By: Dr. Kevin Pawlak, PhD

• The pancreas also has an

Acinus of the Pancreas

Ductal cells modify secretions of the Acinar cells – add HCO3-

Secretin Receptors are Densely Expressed

• Causes malnutrition since digestion of

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