Beta-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
β-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone is an endogenous peptide hormone and neuropeptide. It is a melanocortin, specifically, one of the three types of melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and is produced from proopiomelanocortin. It is an agonist of the MC1, MC3, MC4, and MC5 receptors.
B-melanocyte-stimulating hormone is artificially generated because it does not exist in humans naturally. B-melanocyte-stimulating hormone is also known to decrease food intake in animals such as rats, chicken due to the effect of Proopiomelanocortin. Research was performed to see the effect B-MSH has on chicks, and it has been found that chicks responded with a decrease in food and water intake when treated with B-MSH. The experiment showed that B-MSH causes anorexigenic effects in chicks.
