IF for some reason the parietal cells of the gut epithelium become partially non- functional, what is likely to happen?

Options

A. The pH of stomach will fall abruptly
B. Steapsin will be more effective
C. Proteins will not be adeqately hydrolysed by pepsin into proteoses and peptones
D. The pancreatic enzymes and specially the trypsin and lipase will not work efficiently

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Parietal Cells**: Parietal cells are specialized cells located in the stomach lining that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl). This acid plays a crucial role in the digestive process.

2. **Functions of Hydrochloric Acid**: HCl has three major functions:
- It kills microorganisms present in food.
- It denatures proteins, making them easier to digest.
- It activates pepsinogen, converting it into pepsin, which is essential for protein digestion.

3. **Impact of Non-Functional Parietal Cells**: If the parietal cells become partially non-functional, they will not secrete adequate amounts of HCl. This will lead to several consequences:
- The stomach's pH will not drop sufficiently, which is necessary for activating pepsin.
- Pepsinogen, the inactive form of pepsin, will not be converted to its active form, pepsin.

4. **Consequences on Protein Digestion**: Without sufficient HCl:
- Pepsinogen remains inactive, and thus pepsin is not produced.
- As a result, proteins in the food will not be adequately hydrolyzed into smaller peptides (proteases and peptones).

5. **Evaluating Other Options**:
- The option stating that steapsin (a fat-digesting enzyme) will be more effective is incorrect, as steapsin functions in the small intestine, not the stomach.
- The option suggesting that pancreatic enzymes will not work efficiently is also incorrect, as they function in an alkaline medium in the small intestine, which is not directly affected by the lack of HCl in the stomach.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct conclusion is that if the parietal cells of the gut epithelium become partially non-functional, proteins will not be adequately hydrolyzed by pepsin into proteases and peptones.