[Enzymes in the mucosal layer of the small intestine]

It has been demonstrated by the methods of histochemical and biochemical examination of the activity of the enzymes that the mucus layer covering the small intestinal wall contains active enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, leucin aminopeptidase IV, saccharase, lactase) and pancreatic enzymes (alpha-amylase and trypsin). Emphasis is laid on the enrichment of the mucus layer with pancreatic enzymes as compared with small intestinal juice. A hypothesis has been advanced according to which the mucus layer undergoes degradation of polymeric and oligomeric substrates, which plays a physiological part in the digestion of nutritive substances and protection of the internal medium against immunoactive biopolymers. The digestion occurring in the mucus layer is proposed to be called mucus digestion.