A procedure for the biological assay of melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) or MSH-like peptide fractions in human saliva is described. Samples of whole saliva were collected from normal individuals. The amount of MSH-like activity was estimated to be between 0.3 and 1.0 international units per milliliter of saliva.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Lerner, A.B. , and McGuire, J.S.: Effect of Alpha-and Beta-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormones on the Skin Colour of Man, Nature (Lond)189: 176-179, 1961.
2.
Snell, R.S.: Effect of the Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone of the Pituitary on Melanocytes and Melanin in the Skin of Guinea-Pigs, J Endocrinol25: 249-258, 1962.
3.
Snell, R.S.: Effect of the Alpha Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone of the Pituitary on Mammalian Epidermal Melanocytes, J Invest Dermatol42: 337-347, 1964.
4.
Long, J.M., and Guillemin, R.: On the In Vitro Bioassay for Measuring Melanophoretic Activity, Experientia178: 132-134, 1961.
5.
Kastin, A.J. ; Beach, G.D.; Hawley, W.D.; Kendall, J.W.; Edwards, M.S.; and Schally, A.V.: Dissociation of MSH and ACTH Release in Man, J Clin Endocrinol Metab36: 770-772, 1973.