(Succus Entericus)

Gul Zareen Biochemistry

(NMDC Sargodha)
Succus Entericus

It is a mixture of secretions from the glands present in the intestinal mucosa
of:

Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
It also contains desquamated epithelial cells, leukocytes and mucous
Properties of Intestinal Juice
1. Appearance:
A colorless secretion with about 98.5% water and 1.5% solids.
2. Specific Gravity:
Its specific gravity is 1.010.
3. pH:
Its pH is about 7-8.
3. Volume:
The combined secretion of succus entericus ranges from 2-3 litters/Day.
Composition of Intestinal Juice
 Intestinal Juice

Water-98.5% Solids-1.5%

Organic Substances Inorganic Substances

Enzymes Other Organic 1. Sodium

Substances 2. Calcium
3. Potassium
Proteolytic Enzymes Amylolytic Enzymes 1. Mucus 4. Bicarbonate
1. Aminopeptidases 1. Sucrase 2. IgA
2. Tripeptidases 2. Maltase 5. Chloride
3. Desquamated
3. Dipeptidases 3. Lactase 6. Phosphate
epithelial cells
4. Dextrinase 4. Leukocytes 7. Sulfate
Enterokinase 5. Trehalase 8. Magnesium
5. Intrinsic factor
Lipolytic Enzyme
Nucleases
Lipases
Phosphatases
Phospholipases
Proteolytic Enzymes of the Intestinal Juice

1. Aminopeptidases & Tripeptidases: It is an exopeptidase that attacks

on peptide bond present next to N-terminal amino acid of
polypeptide.

2. Dipeptidases: Dipeptidases of various specificity are present within the

intestinal epithelium and digest dipeptides to free amino acids.

3. Erepsin: It is secreted by ileum. This enzyme hydrolyzes peptones, into

amino acids.

4. Enterokinase (Enteropeptidase): It is secreted by duodenum. This

enzyme causes the activation of trypsinogen (a zymogen), into trypsin.
Proteolytic Enzymes of the Intestinal Juice

Removal of N-terminal
Tripeptides
Amino Acid

Dipeptides Amino Acid

Peptones Amino Acid

Trypsinogen Trypsin
Amylolytic Enzymes of the Intestinal Juice

1. Disaccharidases & Oligosachharidases: These are also known as α-

glucosidases for example Maltases. These remove a single molecule of
glucose from oligosaccharide or disaccharides by hydrolyzing α→(1-4)
linkage.

2. Isomaltases & Dextrinases: These hydrolyze 1-6 linkages in isomaltose

and dextrin.

3. Sucrase: It hydrolyzes sucrose into fructose and glucose.

4. Lactase (β-galactosidase): It removes the galactose from lactose.

Amylolytic Enzymes of the Intestinal Juice

Maltose Glucose

Isomaltose Glucose

Dextrin Glucose

Sucrose Fructose + Glucose

Lactose Galactose + Glucose

Lipolytic Enzymes of the Intestinal Juice

1. Lipases: These enzymes hydrolyze fats into glycerol, fatty acids &
glycerides.

2. Phospholipases: These hydrolyze phospholipids like lecithin into

glycerol, fatty acid, phosphoric acid & base like choline.

Monoglycerides & Glycerol + Fatty Acids

Diglycerides

Glycerol + Fatty Acids +

Phospholipids
Phosphoric Acid + Choline
Other Enzymes of the Intestinal Juice

1. Nucleases: Nucleases digest nucleic acids.

2. Nucleosidases: These digest only guanine 7 hypoxanthine containing

nucleosides.

3. Phosphatases: These remove phosphate from hexose phosphate,

glycerol phosphate and the nucleotides derived from diet.
Functions of Intestinal Juice

1. Digestion: Enzymes of succus entericus digest the food material which

remains undigested so far.

2. Protection: The immunoglobulin A present in succus entericus gives

protection harmful bacteria in intestinal lumen.

3. Neutralization of Acid: It neutralizes the acidic chyme, leaving the

stomach.

4. Lubrication and Buffering: The mucus of intestine lubricates the

walls of small intestine and buffer the HCl present in chyme.
Functions of Intestinal Juice

5. Absorption of Vitamin B₁₂: The juice from the duodenum contains

small amount of intrinsic factor which is needed for absorption of
vitamin B₁₂.

6. Dilution of Food: It dilutes the food and makes it isotonic to plasma.

Regulation of Intestinal Juice Secretion
Secretion is regulated by both Nervous and Hormonal mechanisms.

1. Nervous Regulation: Stimulation of parasympathetic nerves increases

secretion while stimulation by sympathetic nerves decreases
secretion.

However, the local nervous reflexes play an important role in

increasing the secretion of intestinal juice:

When chyme enters the small intestine, the mucosa is stimulated

by tactile stimuli or irritation, it causes the development of local
nervous reflexes, which stimulate the glands of intestine.
Regulation of Intestinal Juice Secretion

2. Hormonal Regulation: When chyme enters the small intestine,

intestinal mucosa secretes secretin and cholecystokinin that promote
the secretion of intestinal juice.
Celiac Disease

Definition: Celiac disease is an inflammatory autoimmune condition of

the small intestine, triggered by gluten in genetically susceptible
individuals.

It has diverse multi-systemic clinical manifestations rather than being an

intestinal disease.

Other terms for celiac disease include: Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy,

Non-Tropical Sprue & Celiac Sprue.
GIT Hormones
Overview of GIT Hormones
We will discuss the following hormones:
1. Gastrin
2. Secretin
3. CCK
4. Motilin
5. Somatostatin
6. GIP
7. VIP.