title: Effects of chronic administration of melanin-concentrating hormone on corticotrophin, melanotrophin, and pigmentation in the trout.
abstract: This paper reports the effects of salmonid melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), administered via an Alzet minipump, on pigmentation and secretion of pituitary melanotrophin (MSH) and corticotrophin (ACTH) by black-adapted, adult rainbow trout. The drug induced melanin concentration in the skin melanophores and prevented melanogenesis. Both the cytological appearance of the pituitary pars intermedia and determinations of plasma alpha-MSH suggest that MCH prevented the increase in secretory activity of the melanotrophic cells seen normally in black-adapted trout. Resting plasma cortisol titres were similar in all groups of fish but anterior pituitary glands taken from stressed, MCH-treated fish released less ACTH in vitro than those from corresponding saline-treated fish.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012487:Salmonidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014337:Trout / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D006854:Hydrocortisone