Succus entericus

The observed calcium/phosphate ratio of 4.5 at the intercept of the calcium and phosphate retention curves that should minimize the sum of the urine calcium plus urine phosphate losses was difficult to believe in view of both the known Ca/P ratio of bone and the amounts we were adding to these solutions. This disparity between the optimal ratio determined experimentally and what we had assumed this ratio should be on the basis of known body composition is partially reconciled by the experiment of Sutton and Barltrop. They fed preterm infants stable Ca46 and observed that up to 20% of the isotope absorbed was subsequently excreted in the stool. Our infants also were undoubtedly having unmeasured calcium losses from the bile, pancreatic juice and succus entericus secreted into their intestine... 

Epithelial cells migrate from the crypts to the tips of the villi in about 2 days [11]. During this time they differentiate and, at the end of their life cycle, are shed into the lumen. Their contents are extruded in the succus entericus and the intracellular enzymes become available for food and drug metabolization in the gut. The amount of cellular material liberated is about 250 g per day. Drugs and macromolecules can be absorbed by this first paracellular pathway, but no quantitative data are as yet available concerning the extent of this phenomenon. Recent literature suggests that some authors are in favor of absorption between the cells, called persorption and responsible for the uptake of cells [15], while others are still skeptical. 

One patient is reported with apparent lactose intolerance who recovered from this intolerance after a brief respite from lactose ingestion. This suggests that the appearance of lactose in the succus entericus may be delayed and symptomatic. 

The intestinal mucosa secretes an alkaline, watery juice containing several enzymes. This secretion mixes with pancreatic juice and bile to form the intestinal juice. The succus entericus, a pure intestinal secretion, is a thin liquid consisting of water, bicarbonate, and a few enzymes. Among the enzymes found in the intestinal secretion are exopeptidase, aminopeptidase, amylase, maltase, invertase, lactase, lipase, and entero-kinase, which activates trypsinogen. 

This is brought about by.the combined action of three secretions pancreatic juice, bile, and intestinal juice, or succus entericus. Digestive activity is maximal about the second stage of the duodenum, and the process continues throughout the small intestine. 

The mixed secretion of the small glands of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum constitutes the intestinal juice, or succus entericus. As obtained from an experimental fistula in the dog, it is an alkaline liquid of pH 8-10, and contains a great variety of enzymes, which complete the hydrolyses begun by the catalysts of the earlier secretions. 

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