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. 2011 Jul 14;2:36. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2011.00036

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Changes of luminal pH in the exocrine pancreas during secretion. Under physiological conditions acinar cells secrete digestive enzymes and protons, the latter of which acidify the acinar lumen. In contrast, ductal cells secrete bicarbonate which will elevate the intraluminal pH. Our hypothesis is that protons may stimulate the ductal bicarbonate secretion via acid sensing receptors (ASR), which can elevate the pH in the ductal lumen setting the luminal pH to 8.0. (N, nucleus).