The Effect of a-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone on Early Stages of Differentiation of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

摘要

Alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH) belongs to the melanocortin family, which includes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); alpha-, beta-, and y-MSHs, and several shorter peptides [1]. It is known that melanocortins and their fragments have nootropic, neurotrophic, and neuroprotective activities [2, 3]. The positive melanocortin effect that was observed in cultured rat neurons was reflected in an increased neuronal survival, an enhanced growth of neuronal processes, and expression of the neuron-specific protein B50 [4]. a-MSH stimulated process growth in Neuro 2A neuroblastoma cells, with the introduction of melanocortin receptor antagonist (MCR4) D-Arg8 ACTH_(4_10) inhibiting the positive effect of the peptide [5].