noun
a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that controls the degree of pigmentation in melanocytes
• Syn: ↑melanocyte-stimulating hormone
• Hypernyms: ↑hormone, ↑endocrine, ↑internal secretion
* * *
I. abbreviation master of staghounds
II. abbreviation
melanocyte-stimulating hormone herein
* * *
1. Also called melanocyte-stimulating hormone, melanotropin. Biochem. a hormone, produced in vertebrates by the pituitary gland, that causes dispersal of the black pigment melanin of melanocytes.
2. Mineral. See Mohs scale.
* * *
MSH (no periods),
* * *
abbr. melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Useful english dictionary. 2012.