Increased production of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the pituitary gland of patients with untreated Addison's disease.
There is evidence that peptides related to alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) are involved in regulating the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex in certain species. We have investigated the amount of immunoreactive (IR)-alpha-MSH in the human pituitary gland of patients suffering from Addison's disease. We show increased numbers of cells containing demonstrable IR-alpha-MSH in the anterior lobe in these patients. Using an antiserum with specificity for the acetylated N-terminus of alpha-MSH we suggest that the major form present is desacetyl-alpha-MSH. These findings are in keeping with a role for anterior lobe derived desacetyl-alpha-MSH in the regulation of the human adrenal cortex.
Coates
P J
PJ
Department of Histopathology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
McNicol
A M
AM
Doniach
I
I
Rees
L H
LH
D000224:Addison Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone