Melanotroph

A melanotroph (or melanotrope) is a cell in the pituitary gland that generates melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) from its precursor pro-opiomelanocortin. Chronic stress can induce the secretion of α‐MSH in melanotrophs and lead to their subsequent degeneration.{{cite journal|title=Chronic stress elicits prolonged activation of α‐MSH secretion and subsequent degeneration of melanotroph|first1=Tokiko |last1=Ogawa |first2=Nobue |last2=Shishioh‐Ikejima |first3=Hiroyuki |last3=Konishi |first4=Tetsuya |last4=Makino |first5=Hiroyoshi |last5=Sei |first6=Sumiko |last6=Kiryu‐Seo |first7=Masaaki |last7=Tanaka |first8=Yasuyoshi |last8=Watanabe |first9=Hiroshi |last9=Kiyama|journal=Journal of Neurochemistry|volume=109|issue=5|doi=10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06057.x |doi-access=free}}