Chemicals and Drugs

Melanocortins

Peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) which can stimulate MELANOCYTES or CORTICOTROPHS. Melanocortins include ACTH; ALPHA-MSH; and other peptides such as BETA-MSH and GAMMA-MSH, derived from other fragments of POMC. These peptides act through a variety of MELANOCORTIN RECEPTORS to control different functions including steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, feeding, and skin pigmentation.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) which can stimulate MELANOCYTES or CORTICOTROPHS. Melanocortins include ACTH; ALPHA-MSH; and other peptides such as BETA-MSH and GAMMA-MSH, derived from other fragments of POMC. These peptides act through a variety of MELANOCORTIN RECEPTORS to control different functions including steroidogenesis, energy homeostasis, feeding, and skin pigmentation.

MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Melanocortin

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

30 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

2007

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Corticotropin (1986-2006)
  • Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones (1986-2006)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D06.472w.699w.327.935.531w
  2. D06.472w.699w.631.525.600.531w
  3. D12.644w.400w.400.935.531w
  4. D12.644w.548w.365.935.531w
  5. D12.644w.548w.691.525.690.531w
  6. D12.776w.631w.650w.405.935.531w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Melanocortins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D053486. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D053486
  2. Melanocortins. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanocortin
  3. Melanocortins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6591465