Melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which regulates the formation of melanin, is produced by the
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone gets its name because of its effect on melanocytes: skin cells that contain the black pigment, melanin. In humans, melanocytes are responsible for moles, freckles, and suntan (and, if they turn cancerous, melanoma). Due to the many other functions of melanocyte-stimulating hormone besides melanin production, there are likely to be a number of other factors that regulate its production. This means that, unlike most hormones, melanocyte-stimulating hormone release is not thought to be controlled by a direct feedback mechanism. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone describes a group of hormones produced by the pituitary gland, hypothalamus and skin cells. It is important for protecting the skin from UV rays, development of pigmentation and control of appetite. melanocyte-stimulating hormone. n. Abbr. MSH A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that regulates skin color in humans and other vertebrates by stimulating melanin synthesis in melanocytes and melanin granule dispersal in melanophores. Also called intermedin. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone describes a group of hormones produced by the pituitary gland, hypothalamus and skin cells. melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), a polypeptide hormone, secreted by the pars intermedia of the pituitary gland, that controls the intensity of pigmentation in pigmented cells. It is synthesized on the same large precursor polypeptide as adrenocorticotropic hormone and the enkephalins. In most vertebrates, MSH is produced by an intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland. Its secretion causes a dramatic darkening of the skin of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles. The darkening occurs as granules of melanin spread through the branches of specialized melanocytes called melanophores. melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) a substance from the anterior pituitary gland of certain other animals but not humans; it influences the formation or deposition of melanin in the body and pigmentation of the skin. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone is a collective name for a group of peptide hormones produced by the skin, pituitary gland and hypothalamus in response to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It plays a key role in producing coloured pigmentation found in the skin, hair and eyes. In the mouse, melanocyte stimulating hormone promotes melanogenic enzyme function and elicits increases in the amount of eumelanins produced, while agouti signal protein reduces total melanin production and elicits the synthesis of pheomelanin rather than eumelanin.
There are likely to be a number of other factors that regulate its production.