LIPOLYTIC-ACTIVITY OF HUMAN LINGUAL GLANDS (EBNER)

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (6) , 603-608
Abstract
Human tongue preparations contain lipolytic activity similar to that present in human esophageal and gastric aspirates and in serous glands of rat tongue. The activity is present in homogenates of the glandular region (Ebner) beneath the cirumvallate papillae, and in secretions collected from the trough of the papillae. The lipolytic enzyme hydrolyzes long chain triglycerides to partial glycerides (di- and monoglyceride), glycerol and free fatty acids at pH optimum 5.4. Lipolytic activity, expressed as nanomol of triglyceride hydrolyzed per min was in the range of 0-500/g of tongue homogenate and 78-277/ml of aspirate from the vallate papillae. There was a 50% inhibition of the lipolytic activity by 4 mM sodium taurodeoxycholate. Specimens obtained from the region of the vallate papillae were examined by light microscopy and EM microscopy. Electron-dense granules similar to secretory granules present in rat Ebner''s gland and in serous acini of human submaxillary glands were detected. In man, as previously reported in the rat, the lingual serous glands apparently secrete a lipase that acts in the stomach where it initiates the digestion of dietary fat.