title: Increased production of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in the pituitary gland of patients with untreated Addison's disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: McNicol
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Doniach
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone