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melanocyte-stimulating hormone

American  
[muh-lan-uh-sahyt-stim-yuh-ley-ting, mel-uh-nuh-] / məˈlæn əˌsaɪtˌstɪm yəˌleɪ tɪŋ, ˈmɛl ə nə- /

noun

Biochemistry.

  1. MSH.

melanocyte-stimulating hormone Scientific  

  1. A hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland and regulates skin color by stimulating melanin synthesis in humans and other vertebrates. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone stimulates the melanin-producing cells (called melanocytes) of mammals and the melanin-containing cells (called melanophores) of reptiles and amphibians.

Etymology

Origin of melanocyte-stimulating hormone

First recorded in 1950–55

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.