This antibody specifically targets alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone. Its activity can be neutralized by absorbing it with 10-100 ug of the immunogen per ml of diluted antiserum, which eliminates staining. In humans, alpha-MSH is present in the corticotrophs of the anterior pituitary and may also be found in brain neurons. A positive control for this antibody is Bouin-fixed paraffin sections of the pig pituitary.