Biomaterial Database

A teleost skin bioassay for melanotropic peptides. 1987

A M Castrucci, and M E Hadley, and V J Hruby

A teleost (the eel, Synbranchus marmoratus) skin bioassay for melanotropic peptides and other agonists is described. Unlike previous teleost assays that generally monitor or observe individual melanophores, this objective assay utilizes large intact pieces of skin and quantitative photoreflectance methods. Since melanosomes within most teleost melanophores are generally dispersed, the present assay provides a method for measuring the response of integumental melanophores to melanosome-aggregating agents such as MCH, a putative melanin-concentrating hormone. This bioassay is sensitive to MCH at a concentration as low as 10(-12) M. Because of the magnitude of this lightening response, four-point dose-response curves can be obtained. Skins lightened by MCH can then be used for bioassay of melanotropins or other melanosome-dispersing agents, such as beta-adrenoceptor agonists. This bioassay is unique in providing a method for determining the biological activities of melanotropic peptides with opposing actions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007028	Hypothalamic Hormones	Peptide hormones produced by NEURONS of various regions in the HYPOTHALAMUS. They are released into the pituitary portal circulation to stimulate or inhibit PITUITARY GLAND functions. VASOPRESSIN and OXYTOCIN, though produced in the hypothalamus, are not included here for they are transported down the AXONS to the POSTERIOR LOBE OF PITUITARY before being released into the portal circulation.	Hypothalamic Pituitary-Regulating Hormones,Hypothalamic Pituitary-Regulating Peptides,Hormones, Hypothalamic,Hormones, Hypothalamic Pituitary-Regulating,Hypothalamic Pituitary Regulating Hormones,Hypothalamic Pituitary Regulating Peptides,Peptides, Hypothalamic Pituitary-Regulating,Pituitary-Regulating Hormones, Hypothalamic,Pituitary-Regulating Peptides, Hypothalamic
D007545	Isoproterenol	Isopropyl analog of EPINEPHRINE; beta-sympathomimetic that acts on the heart, bronchi, skeletal muscle, alimentary tract, etc. It is used mainly as bronchodilator and heart stimulant.	Isoprenaline,Isopropylarterenol,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-((1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Euspiran,Isadrin,Isadrine,Isopropyl Noradrenaline,Isopropylnoradrenaline,Isopropylnorepinephrine,Isoproterenol Hydrochloride,Isoproterenol Sulfate,Isuprel,Izadrin,Norisodrine,Novodrin,Hydrochloride, Isoproterenol,Noradrenaline, Isopropyl,Sulfate, Isoproterenol
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D008543	Melanins	Insoluble polymers of TYROSINE derivatives found in and causing darkness in skin (SKIN PIGMENTATION), hair, and feathers providing protection against SUNBURN induced by SUNLIGHT. CAROTENES contribute yellow and red coloration.	Allomelanins,Melanin,Phaeomelanins
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D008547	Melanophores	Chromatophores (large pigment cells of fish, amphibia, reptiles and many invertebrates) which contain melanin. Short term color changes are brought about by an active redistribution of the melanophores pigment containing organelles (MELANOSOMES). Mammals do not have melanophores; however they have retained smaller pigment cells known as MELANOCYTES.	Melanophore
D009074	Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones	Peptides with the ability to stimulate pigmented cells MELANOCYTES in mammals and MELANOPHORES in lower vertebrates. By stimulating the synthesis and distribution of MELANIN in these pigmented cells, they increase coloration of skin and other tissue. MSHs, derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), are produced by MELANOTROPHS in the INTERMEDIATE LOBE OF PITUITARY; CORTICOTROPHS in the ANTERIOR LOBE OF PITUITARY, and the hypothalamic neurons in the ARCUATE NUCLEUS OF HYPOTHALAMUS.	MSH,Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone,Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone,Melanophore Stimulating Hormone,Melanotropin,MSH (Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones),Melanophore-Stimulating Hormone,Hormone, Melanocyte Stimulating,Hormone, Melanocyte-Stimulating,Hormone, Melanophore Stimulating,Melanocyte Stimulating Hormones,Stimulating Hormone, Melanocyte,Stimulating Hormone, Melanophore
D010907	Pituitary Hormones	Hormones secreted by the PITUITARY GLAND including those from the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis), the posterior lobe (neurohypophysis), and the ill-defined intermediate lobe. Structurally, they include small peptides, proteins, and glycoproteins. They are under the regulation of neural signals (NEUROTRANSMITTERS) or neuroendocrine signals (HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES) from the hypothalamus as well as feedback from their targets such as ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES; ANDROGENS; ESTROGENS.	Hormones, Pituitary
D002449	Cell Aggregation	The phenomenon by which dissociated cells intermixed in vitro tend to group themselves with cells of their own type.	Aggregation, Cell,Aggregations, Cell,Cell Aggregations
D004305	Dose-Response Relationship, Drug	The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug.	Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response