Secretin Human
(a) Analysis by RP-HPLC.
(b) Analysis by SDS-PAGE.
Description
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
Secretin was first discovered in 1902 by British physiologists William Bayliss and Ernest Starling. They identified it as the first hormone ever discovered, marking the beginning of endocrinology as a scientific discipline. Secretin is composed of 27 amino acids and has a molecular weight of approximately 3039.44 Da .
Secretin is produced in response to the acidic content of the stomach entering the duodenum. When the pH of the duodenal content drops below 4.5, secretin is released into the bloodstream . Its primary function is to stimulate the pancreas to secrete bicarbonate-rich pancreatic juice, which neutralizes the acidity of the chyme entering the small intestine from the stomach . This action is essential for protecting the intestinal lining and providing an optimal pH for enzymatic activity in the small intestine.
- Regulation of Gastric Acid Secretion: Secretin inhibits the secretion of gastric acid from the parietal cells of the stomach .
- Stimulation of Bicarbonate Production: It stimulates the ductal cells of the pancreas to produce bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acidic chyme .
- Bile Production: Secretin also stimulates the secretion of bicarbonate and water by cholangiocytes in the bile duct, aiding in bile production and flow .
- Neurotransmitter Role: Besides its gastrointestinal functions, secretin is also considered a neuropeptide hormone as it is expressed in the central nervous system .
Synthetic human secretin, known as RG1068, is used clinically to stimulate pancreatic and gastric secretions. It is particularly useful in diagnosing pancreatic exocrine dysfunction, gastrinoma, and abnormalities in the bile and pancreatic ducts . The synthetic form of secretin has an amino acid sequence identical to the naturally occurring hormone and displays equivalent biological activity .
