Beta-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone explained

β-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) is an endogenous peptide hormone and neuropeptide.^[1] It is a melanocortin, specifically, one of the three types of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), and is produced from proopiomelanocortin (POMC). It is an agonist of the MC₁, MC₃, MC₄, and MC₅ receptors.

β-MSH is also known to decrease food intake in animals such as rats, chicken due to the effect of proopiomelanocortin (POMC).^[2] Research was performed to see the effect β-MSH has on chicks, and it has been found that chicks responded with a decrease in food and water intake when treated with β-MSH. The experiment showed that β-MSH causes anorexigenic effects in chicks.^[3]

See also

• α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
• γ-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Notes and References

1. Book: Abba Kastin. Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides. 26 January 2013. Academic Press. 978-0-12-385096-6. 838–844.
2. Kamisoyama. Hiroshi. Honda. Kazuhisa. Saneyasu. Takaoki. Sugahara. Kunio. Hasegawa. Shin. 2009-07-24. Corticotropin-releasing factor is a downstream mediator of the beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced anorexigenic pathway in chicks. Neuroscience Letters. 458. 3. 102–105. 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.04.041. 19393716. 42981014. 0304-3940.
3. Smith. M. L.. Prall. B.. Nandar. W.. Cline. M. A.. February 2008. Beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone potently reduces appetite via the hypothalamus in chicks. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 20. 2. 220–226. 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2007.01639.x. 1365-2826. 18088360. 19661927.