Melanotroph Explained

A melanotroph (or melanotrope) is a cell in the pituitary gland that generates melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) from its precursor pro-opiomelanocortin. Chronic stress can induce the secretion of α‐MSH in melanotrophs and lead to their subsequent degeneration.^[1]

See also

• Chromophobe cell
• Chromophil

• Acidophil cell

• Basophil cell
• Oxyphil cell

• Oxyphil cell (parathyroid)
• Pituitary gland
• Neuroendocrine cell
• List of distinct cell types in the adult human body

Notes and References

1. Chronic stress elicits prolonged activation of α‐MSH secretion and subsequent degeneration of melanotroph. Tokiko . Ogawa . Nobue . Shishioh‐Ikejima . Hiroyuki . Konishi . Tetsuya . Makino . Hiroyoshi . Sei . Sumiko . Kiryu‐Seo . Masaaki . Tanaka . Yasuyoshi . Watanabe . Hiroshi . Kiyama. Journal of Neurochemistry. 109. 5. 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06057.x . free.