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Mixed Primary Cultures of Murine Small Intestine Intended for the Study of Gut Hormone Secretion and Live Cell Imaging of Enteroendocrine Cells
Published on: April 20, 2017
Brain-gut axis in pancreatic secretion and appetite control
S J Konturek1, J Pepera, K Zabielski
1Department of Physiology, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Kraków, Poland. mpkontur@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Summary
Exocrine pancreatic secretion is regulated by vagal nerves and enterohormones like cholecystokinin (CCK). These signals, along with hormones affecting appetite, control pancreatic function and feeding behavior.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Neuroendocrinology
- Physiology of Digestion
- Appetitive Behavior Regulation
Background:
- Exocrine pancreatic secretion, initially attributed solely to reflexes (nervism), is now known to involve enterohormones like cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin.
- Recent findings indicate CCK and other enterohormones stimulate the pancreas via sensory nerve excitation and vago-vagal reflexes.
- The enteric nervous system (ENS) releases neurotransmitters and neuropeptides that also regulate exocrine pancreatic function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the roles of vagal nerves and enterohormones, particularly CCK, in controlling exocrine pancreatic secretion.
- To examine the involvement of appetite-regulating hormones (leptin, ghrelin) and the pancreatic polypeptide family in pancreatic secretion.
- To elucidate the interplay between hormonal and neural pathways in regulating pancreatic secretion and feeding behavior.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on studies investigating vagal nerve and enterohormone contributions to pancreatic secretion.
- Analysis of research on the impact of CCK, secretin, leptin, ghrelin, and pancreatic polypeptide family members on pancreatic function.
- Synthesis of findings related to the cephalic, gastric, and intestinal phases of postprandial pancreatic secretion.
Main Results:
- Basal pancreatic secretion fluctuates, controlled by the ENS, motilin, and acetylcholine (Ach), with ghrelin increasing and leptin decreasing.
- Postprandial pancreatic secretion involves CCK, primarily acting via vago-vagal reflexes to stimulate the pancreas.
- Feeding behavior is reflected by decreased ghrelin and increased leptin postprandially, alongside pancreatic secretion.
Conclusions:
- The vagus nerve plays a major role in cephalic and gastric phases (with gastrin) and the intestinal phase (with CCK and secretin).
- Enterohormones and appetite-related peptides (PP, PYY, somatostatin, leptin, ghrelin) likely participate in feedback control of pancreatic secretion via hypothalamic centers.
- Vagal nerves and enterohormones are critical regulators of exocrine pancreatic secretion, integrating digestive and feeding behaviors.
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