alpha-MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) causes an increase in tyrosinase activity (O-diphenol-O2 oxidoreductase; EC 1.14.18.1) in Cloudman S-91 mouse melanoma cell cultures following a lag period of approximately 9 h. Treatment of cells with 2 X 10(-7)M alpha-MSH for 6 days results in a 90-fold increase in the specific activity of the enzyme. The hormone-mediated increase in tyrosinase activ...

melanocortin-1 (mc1) receptor is an attractive melanoma-specific target for the development of α-msh peptide based imaging and therapeutic agents. in this work a new lactam bridge α-msh analogue was synthesized and radiolabeled with 99mtc via hynic chelator and tricine as co-ligand. also, stability in human serum, receptor bound internalization and tissue biodistribution in tumor bearing nude m...

INTRODUCTION Galanin is a neuropeptide with wide-ranging effects, especially within the endocrine and nervous systems. Galanin and its receptors are present in human skin. Galanin is expressed in different neural, endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors and, on the other hand, several neuropeptides, particularly alpha-MSH, seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of melanoma. OBJECTIVE To investig...

Suppression of collagen synthesis is a major therapeutic goal in the treatment of fibrotic disorders. We show here that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a neuropeptide well known for its pigment-inducing capacity, modulates collagen synthesis and deposition. Alpha-MSH in vitro suppresses the synthesis of collagen types I, III, and V and down-regulates the secretion of procollag...

Neurons that immunostain for alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) have been identified in the nucleus ambiguus (nAmb). The presence of mRNA for melanocortin type 4 receptors (MC4Rs) has also been reported in this nucleus. On the basis of this information, it was hypothesized that activation of MC4Rs in the nAmb may play a role in the regulation of cardiac function. This hypothesis w...

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and is on the rise. An important paracrine factor that offers photoprotection against the carcinogenic effect of ultraviolet radiation (UV) is ámelanocortin (á-MSH). It not only stimulates eumelanin synthesis, a photoprotective pigment, but also reduces the generation of damaging reactive oxygen species, and enhances nucleotide excision repair (NER)...

Mouse gene targeting studies revealed that the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) affected feeding efficiency and fat storage in mice. The functions of the MC3R in other mammalian species remain to be investigated. We are interested in exploring the functions of the porcine MC3R (pMC3R) in regulating fat storage because of the economical importance of swine industry. Although nucleotide sequences o...

Arctic charr were allowed to interact in groups of three for 5 days. Skin darkness was quantified by measuring the mean brightness of individual fish before and after social interaction. Brain levels of monoamines and monoamine metabolites and plasma concentrations of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), N-acetyl-(beta)-endorphin and alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) wer...

Introduction. Maxillary sinus hypoplasia (MSH) has been reported to cause a cant in the orbital plane. No similar reports exist about possible impact on maxilla. The aim of this study was assess if MSH is associated with maxillary occlusal plane (MOP) and dental or mandibular factors influenced existence MOP cant. Methods. 80 cone beam CT images subjects were analyzed for type MSH, degree cant,...

Huang, Qin-Heng, Victor J. Hruby, and Jeffrey B. Tatro. Systemic a-MSH suppresses LPS fever via central melanocortin receptors independently of its suppression of corticosterone and IL-6 release. Am. J. Physiol. 275 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 44): R524–R530, 1998.— Systemically administered a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH) inhibits endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS)or inter...