Review article: duodenal bicarbonate – mucosal protection, luminal chemosensing and acid–base balance

The duodenum serves as a buffer zone between the stomach and the jejunum. Over a length of only 25 cm, large volumes of strong acid secreted by the stomach must be converted to the neutral–alkaline chyme of the hindgut lumen, generating large volumes of CO₂.

The duodenal mucosa consists of epithelial cells connected by low-resistance tight junctions, forming a leaky epithelial barrier. Despite this permeability, the epithelial cells, under intense stress from luminal mineral acid and highly elevated Pco₂, maintain normal functioning.

Bicarbonate ion uniquely protects the duodenal epithelial cells from acid-related injury. The specific protective mechanisms likely involve luminal bicarbonate secretion, intracellular pH buffering and interstitial buffering. Furthermore, the duodenum plays an active role in foregut acid–base homeostasis, absorbing large amounts of H⁺ and CO₂.

We have studied mucosal protection and acid–base balance using live-animal fluorescence ratio microimaging and by performing H⁺ and CO₂ balance studies on duodenal perfusates. On the basis of these data, we have formulated novel hypotheses with regard to mucosal protection.