The regulation of plasma β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) in man has been studied utilizing a radioimmunoassay previously described (1). In normal subjects plasma β-MSH values ranged from 20 to 110 pg/ml. Metyrapone increased and dexamethasone decreased plasma β-MSH levels. Surgical stress stimulated β-MSH secretion. Plasma β-MSH levels were elevated in patients with untreated Addison's disease and untreated congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and these levels fell to normal during glucocorticoid therapy. In patients with Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) excess, plasma β-MSH was slightly elevated before treatment. In those patients who developed pituitary tumors and hyperpigmentation after bilateral adrenalectomy, plasma β-MSH was greatly elevated. In patients with Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal tumor, plasma β-MSH was subnormal. In patients with the ectopic ACTH syndrome, the levels of plasma β-MSH were high. Plasma β-MSH had a diurnal variation in normal subjects, patients with Addison's disease, and patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia; but the normal diurnal variation was lost in patients with Cushing's disease. In patients with high plasma β-MSH, simultaneous determinations of plasma ACTH showed close correlation between the degree of elevation of ACTH and that of β-MSH. In extracts of tumors from patients with the ectopic ACTH-MSH syndrome the quantities of the two hormones were roughly equivalent. In patients with hyperpigmentation due to a variety of disorders other than pituitary-adrenal abnormalities, plasma β-MSH was normal. It is concluded that the secretion of β-MSH is regulated by the same factors that regulate ACTH.
Kaoru Abe, Wendell E. Nicholson, Grant W. Liddle, David N. Orth, Donald P. Island
Usage data is cumulative from July 2024 through July 2025.
Usage | JCI | PMC |
---|---|---|
Text version | 221 | 72 |
60 | 11 | |
Scanned page | 224 | 14 |
Citation downloads | 58 | 0 |
Totals | 563 | 97 |
Total Views | 660 |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.