| melanocyte | Special cells in the skin and the eye that synthesise melanin pigments. Clusters of melanocytes often appear on the skin as moles. In fish and reptiles, the pigments are stored in melanosomes (chromatophores) that can be redistributed in the cytoplasm to change pigment patterns. Synonym: melanodendrocyte. Origin: melano-+ G. + kytos, a hollow (cell) (29 Sep 1997) |
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| melanocyte-stimulating hormone | <endocrinology> A releasing hormone produced in the mammalian hypophysis and related structures in lower vertebrates. Made up of _ MSH (1665D), the same as amino acids 1-13 of ACTH and _ MSH (18 amino acids, 22 in humans). Causes darkening of the skin by expansion of the melanophores but its role in mammals is unclear. Synonym: melanotropin. Acronym: MSH (22 Sep 2002) |