Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone and Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone

Abstract

HYPERPIGMENTATION in patients with adrenocortical insufficiency or some kinds of pituitary tumors is produced by increased release from the pituitary gland of peptide hormones that cause melanocytes to darken.^{1 2 3} These peptides are the melanocyte-stimulating hormones (alpha and beta MSH) and adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH). The background of this subject is both interesting and confusing, and its historical development will be pursued before our present experiments are described.During the period 1916–1932 it was shown that the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland of amphibians and mammals contains substances that darken the skin of frogs and tadpoles.^{4 5 6} Changes in color occur much more . . .