Thody A J, Shuster S
J Endocrinol. 1975 Mar;64(3):503-10.
The effect of alpha-MSH on sebum secretion and preputial gland weight was examined in intact, castrated and hypophysectomized male rats and in hypophysectomized rats receiving treatment with either testosterone propionate (TP) or progesterone. After treatment with alpha-MSH for 2 weeks, increases in sebum secretion occurred in intact, castrated and hypophysectomized rats, but larger responses were found in the hypophysectomized rats that had received treatment with either TP or progesterone, suggesting that alpha-MSH acts synergistically with TP and progesterone to stimulate sebum secretion. Alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone also increased preputial gland weight in intact rats, but there was no response after castration and only a small response after hypophysectomy. However, when the hypophysectomized rats received simultaneous treatment with either TP or progesterone, alpha-MSH increased preputial gland weight. It is suggested that alpha-MSH acts directly on the sebaceous glands to stimulate lipogenesis and, together with steroid hormones, may have an important role in controlling sebaceous glandd function in the rat and other hairy mammals. With the evolution of hair, certain of the MSH peptides may have lost their significance as pigmentary hormones and have developed a sebotrophic function. For this reason, it might be more appropriate to refer to these peptides as the 'sebotrophins'.
在完整、去势和垂体切除的雄性大鼠以及接受丙酸睾酮（TP）或孕酮治疗的垂体切除大鼠中，研究了α-促黑素（alpha-MSH）对皮脂分泌和包皮腺重量的影响。用α-促黑素治疗2周后，完整、去势和垂体切除的大鼠皮脂分泌均增加，但在接受TP或孕酮治疗的垂体切除大鼠中反应更大，这表明α-促黑素与TP和孕酮协同作用以刺激皮脂分泌。α-黑素细胞刺激素也增加了完整大鼠的包皮腺重量，但去势后无反应，垂体切除后只有轻微反应。然而，当垂体切除大鼠同时接受TP或孕酮治疗时，α-促黑素增加了包皮腺重量。提示α-促黑素直接作用于皮脂腺以刺激脂肪生成，并且与类固醇激素一起，可能在控制大鼠和其他多毛哺乳动物的皮脂腺功能中起重要作用。随着毛发的进化，某些促黑素肽可能已失去其作为色素激素的意义，并发展出皮脂营养功能。因此，将这些肽称为“皮脂营养素”可能更合适。
