Hormone-elicited enzyme release by the small intestinal wall

Abstract

Three enzymes of intestinal origin-enterokinase, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase-were released into the perfused small intestinal lumen of the rat upon intravenous injection of the gastrointestinal hormone cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ). The presence of bile in the perfusion fluid greatly augmented this release. The results suggest that a combined mechanism of enzyme liberation due to direct hormonal stimulation of the gut wall and further solubilization of released intestinal enzymes by bile may be responsible for the appearance of these enzymes in the gut lumen.