Objective To discuss the expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone(α-MSH) mRNA in human medium thickness skin autografts and to investigatethe role of αMSH in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts. Methods The samples were from medium thickness skin autografts on neck of the patients after 1 year of surgery. The size of sample was about 1.0 cm×0.5 cm. RT-PCR technique was performed to detect the expression of α-MSH mRNA in medium thickness skinautografts and normal skin respectively. Masson-Fontana stain technique was performed to detect the contents of melanin in medium thickness skin autografts andnormal skin epidermis respectively. Results The expression ofα-MSH mRNA in medium thickness skin autografts was much ber than that in control normal skin, showing statistically significant difference (P＜0.01). The expression of α-MSH/β2-microglobulin mRNA in normal skin of donor area was no statistically significant differences compared with normal skin around recipient area. The contents of melaninin medium thickness skin autografts epidermis obviously increased when compared with that of control normal skin. The expression of α-MSH mRNA was positive correlated with the contents of melanin in epidermis. Conclusion The above results indicate that the expression of α-MSH increases greater in medium thicknessskin autografts than in cortrol samples and was correlated with the pigmentation of skin autografts. Overexpression of α-MSH may play an important role in hyperpigmented process of skin autografts.