Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Measuring Lactase Enzymatic Activity in the Teaching Lab
04:41

Measuring Lactase Enzymatic Activity in the Teaching Lab

Published on: August 6, 2018

Ontogeny of human gastric lipase and pepsin activities

D Ménard1, S Monfils, E Tremblay

  • 1Département d'Anatomie et de Biologie Cellulaire, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.

Gastroenterology
|June 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Human gastric lipase activity emerges early in fetal development, with adult-like distribution by 16 weeks. This suggests the fetal gastric mucosa is the primary source of lipase in premature infants.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Enzymology

Background:

  • The developmental pattern of human gastric lipase and the secretory function of the immature gastric mucosa remain largely uncharacterized.
  • Limited understanding exists regarding the precise timing and regional distribution of gastric lipase activity during fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the tissue activity levels of lipase and pepsin in different anatomical regions of the developing human stomach.
  • To investigate whether the fetal gastric mucosa actively secretes lipase.

Main Methods:

  • Assayed lipase and pepsin activities in 49 fetal gastric specimens across various gestational ages.
  • Cultured gastric explants in a defined medium for up to 5 days, measuring enzyme activities in tissues and secreted media.

Main Results:

  • Lipolytic activity was detected from 10-13 weeks gestation, increasing significantly until 20 weeks.
  • A distinct gradient of lipase activity was observed, highest in the fundus and lowest in the antrum; pepsin activity showed no regional variation.
  • Organ culture demonstrated a 3.8-fold increase in total lipase and pepsin activity, with both enzymes secreted into the medium.

Conclusions:

  • Gastric lipase is present by 10-13 weeks gestation, with adult-like regional distribution established by 16 weeks.
  • The secretion of lipase by the gastric mucosa in organ culture indicates it is the principal source of lipolytic activity found in premature infants' gastric aspirates.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates08:59

Defining Substrate Specificities for Lipase and Phospholipase Candidates

Published on: November 23, 2016

In Vitro Enzyme Measurement to Test Pharmacological Chaperone Responsiveness in Fabry and Pompe Disease10:16

In Vitro Enzyme Measurement to Test Pharmacological Chaperone Responsiveness in Fabry and Pompe Disease

Published on: December 20, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Lipid Digestion01:06

Lipid Digestion

Lipids are large molecules that are generally not water-soluble. Since most of the digestive enzymes in the human body are water-based, there are specific steps the body must take to break down lipids and make them available for use.
Protein Digestion01:02

Protein Digestion

Protein digestion begins in the stomach, where the highly acidic environment can easily disrupt protein structure by exposing the peptide bonds of polypeptide chains. After polypeptide chains are broken into individual amino acids by a series of digestive enzymes, the amino acids are transported to the liver via the bloodstream to produce energy.
Hormonal Regulation01:40

Hormonal Regulation

Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Injurious Factors01:22

Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Injurious Factors

Peptic ulcers are sores on the stomach's inner lining and the upper small intestine, which are the result of disruptions in the mucosal layer that houses parietal cells which produce gastric acid, and chief cells which secrete pepsinogen.
In the antrum region, G cells secrete the gastrin hormone that binds to gastrin-cholecystokinin-B (CCK2) receptors on parietal and enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in the fundic glands. Simultaneously, the vagus nerve releases acetylcholine, which binds to M3...
Cephalic Phase of Digestion01:24

Cephalic Phase of Digestion

The process of digestion is composed of three stages – cephalic, gastric, and intestinal – each with a distinct control center. The cephalic phase is the first stage, and it starts even before the food enters the stomach. It is controlled by the central nervous system and is initiated by any food-related sensory stimuli, such as the sight and smell of food, which send signals to the brain. While eating, the taste receptors intensify these signals, which travel to the cerebral cortex and then to...
Gastric Phase of Digestion01:26

Gastric Phase of Digestion

The gastric phase of digestion begins as soon as food enters the stomach. The incoming food bolus triggers neural and hormonal mechanisms, which last approximately 3 to 4 hours. During this phase, the stomach undergoes significant changes to prepare the food for further digestion and absorption.
When food enters the stomach, it stretches the stomach walls and activates stretch receptors. This triggers local reflexes of the enteric nervous system, mediated through the myenteric plexus. These...