What is the major function of Melanocyte stimulating hormone?

Answer 1

At the basic level, the major function of melanocyte-stimulating hormone is in cutaneous Biology. MSH is primarily involved in controlling pigmentation levels for skin darkening or lightening via stimulating aggregation or anti-aggregation of pigment containing cells. There are two main processes of change: morphological colour change and physiological colour change. The former involves the movement of present pigments in response to detection of sunlight quantity. Therefore the dispersal of such pigments stimulated by increased MSH results in immediate darkening - for example, a frog's skin, during a camouflage response. Whereas, the latter long term process involves chemicals from the brain and pituitary gland to promote or decrease the production of pigment amount. In the long term, the decrease production of pigments by decreased MSH presence leads to for instance, albino-like or pale-skinned creatures at the bottom of the ocean.

Other functions include indirect involvement in growth and even in stress.