PANCREATIC JUICE
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Introduction
• The pancreas is a dual gland having:
• Exocrine function – secretion of digestive enzymes
• Endocrine function – secretion of hormones (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic
polypeptide)
• The exocrine pancreas secretes a powerful digestive fluid known as pancreatic juice
• Pancreatic juice plays a major role in digestion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and nucleic
acids
Composition of Pancreatic Juice
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Pancreatic juice is a clear, alkaline secretion produced by the exocrine pancreas.
It consists of water and solids.
1. Water
• Forms about 99% of pancreatic juice
• Acts as a medium for enzyme action
• Helps in dilution and transport of enzymes
2. Solids (≈ 1%)
Solids are divided into:
1. Organic compounds
2. Inorganic compounds
A. Organic Compounds (Enzymes)
1. Proteolytic Enzymes (Protein-digesting enzymes)
• Trypsin
• Chymotrypsin
• Carboxypeptidase
• Elastase
• Collagenase
2. Lipolytic Enzymes (Fat-digesting enzymes)
• Pancreatic lipase
• Colipase
• Phospholipase A
• Phospholipase B
3. Amylolytic Enzyme (Carbohydrate-digesting enzyme)
• Pancreatic amylase
*Digests starch into maltose, dextrins, and oligosaccharides.
4. Nucleases (Nucleic acid-digesting enzymes)
• DNase – digests DNA
• RNase – digests RNA
B. Inorganic Compounds (Electrolytes)
1. Anions
• Chloride (Cl )
• Bicarbonate (HCO )
• Phosphate (PO ³ )
• Sulphate (SO ² )
2. Cations
• Sodium (Na )
• Potassium (K )
• Calcium (Ca² )
• Magnesium (Mg² )
Properties of Pancreatic Juice
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• Volume: 500–800 mL per day
• pH: 8.0 – 8.3 (alkaline)
• Specific gravity: 1.010 – 1.018
• Juice is clear, colorless, and alkaline
Functions of Pancreatic Juice
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Pancreatic juice is a clear, alkaline digestive secretion produced by the pancreas and poured into
the duodenum. It plays a vital role in the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, nucleic acids,
and in neutralizing acidic chyme.
1. Digestion of Proteins
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Pancreatic juice contains powerful proteolytic enzymes, most of which are secreted in inactive
(zymogen) form to prevent autodigestion of the pancreas.
a) Trypsin
• Secreted as inactive trypsinogen
• Activated by enterokinase (enteropeptidase) of the intestinal mucosa
• Once activated, trypsin activates other pancreatic enzymes
• It is an endopeptidase
• Digests proteins into peptones and polypeptides
• Shows autocatalytic activity (trypsin activates more trypsinogen)
• Central enzyme in protein digestion
• Acts optimally in alkaline pH
• Deficiency leads to poor protein digestion
b) Chymotrypsin
• Secreted as inactive chymotrypsinogen
• Activated by trypsin
• It is an endopeptidase
• Digests proteins into peptones and polypeptides
• Works along with trypsin to enhance protein digestion
• Acts on specific peptide bonds (aromatic amino acids)
c) Carboxypeptidase
• Secreted as inactive procarboxypeptidase
• Activated by trypsin
• It is an exopeptidase
• Breaks polypeptides into free amino acids
• Acts on the carboxyl terminal of peptides
• Completes final stages of protein digestion
d) Elastase
• Secreted as inactive proelastase
• Activated by trypsin
• Digests elastic fibers and elastin
• Important for digestion of connective tissue proteins
• Helps in digestion of meat
e) Collagenase
• Secreted as inactive procollagenase
• Activated by trypsin
• Digests collagen fibers
• Aids digestion of tough connective tissues
• Enhances overall protein digestion
2. Digestion of Lipids (Fats)
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a) Pancreatic Lipase
• Most important fat-digesting enzyme
• Responsible for more than 80–90% of fat digestion
• Converts triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides
• Requires bile salts and colipase for normal action
• Acts efficiently in alkaline medium
• Deficiency causes fat malabsorption (steatorrhea)
b) Pancreatic Colipase
• Facilitates the action of pancreatic lipase
• Anchors lipase to fat droplets in the presence of bile salts
Extra points:
• Essential co-enzyme for lipase
• Prevents inhibition of lipase by bile salts
c) Phospholipase A and B
• Digest phospholipids
• Convert phospholipids into fatty acids and lysophospholipids
Extra points:
• Important for digestion of cell membrane lipids
• Works synergistically with bile salts
3. Digestion of Carbohydrates
Pancreatic Amylase
• Digests boiled and unboiled starch
• Converts starch into maltose, isomaltose, and dextrins
Extra points:
• Continues carbohydrate digestion started by salivary amylase
• Acts best in alkaline pH
• Does not act on cellulose
4. Digestion of Nucleic Acids
• DNase digests DNA into nucleotides
• RNase digests RNA into nucleotides
Extra points:
• Enables absorption of nucleic acid components
• Important for utilization of dietary nucleoproteins
5. Neutralizing Action
• Pancreatic juice contains bicarbonates (HCO )
• Neutralizes acidic chyme entering duodenum from stomach
• Provides optimal alkaline pH for pancreatic enzymes
• Prevents damage to intestinal mucosa
Extra points:
• Protects duodenum from acid injury
• Prevents development of duodenal ulcers
• Enhances effectiveness of digestive enzymes