melanocyte Zool.
(ˈmɛlənəʊ-, mɪˈlænəʊsaɪt)
[f. melano- + -cyte.]
A mature melanin-forming cell; also, a melanophore.
| 1890 in Billings Med. Dict. II. 128/1. 1935 Chem. Abstr. XXIX. 8125 Melanocyte reaction of the preparations of pituitary body and the urine of cancer patient. 1953 Science 5 June 640/2 (table) Recommended terminology of pigment cells. Mature melanin-forming cell: Melanocyte. 1957 Times 4 Oct. 5 There are 500 to 2,000 melanocytes per square millimetre of skin surface, except on the face, forehead and behind the ears, where there are 1,500 to 4,000 per square millimetre. 1971 New Scientist 12 Aug. 366/1 It is difficult to understand why MSH is still secreted by the pituitary gland of birds and mammals, when these animals have lost the capacity for varying the colour of their body through the movements of pigment granules in melanocytes. |
Hence melanocyte-stimulating hormone, a hormone that stimulates melanocytes or melanophores and causes darkening of the skin; abbrev. MSH.
| 1953 Lerner & Fitzpatrick in M. Gordon Pigment Cell Growth 329 There are many indications that the pituitary gland produces a melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) Rattner et al.). 1954 A. B. Lerner et al. in Jrnl. Clin. Endocrinol. & Metabolism XIV. 1465 We have called the pituitary factor which darkens skin the melanocyte-stimulating hormone or MSH, a term first suggested by W. H. Rattner. Names used previously include melanophore hormone, melanophore-dilating principle, intermedin, and others. 1956 Jrnl. Biol. Chem. CCXXI. 958 Two distinct melanocyte-stimulating hormones (α- and β-MSH) are present in hog pituitary gland. 1964 [see intermedin]. 1971 New Scientist 12 Aug. 365/2 Melanocyte-stimulating hormone and corticotrophin..are two of the many polypeptide hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. |