Stimulates the adrenal glands to release cortisol. Anorexigenic peptide. Increases the pigmentation of skin by increasing melanin production in melanocytes. Increases the pigmentation of skin by increasing melanin production in melanocytes. Endogenous orexigenic opiate. Endogenous opiate. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone alpha and beta-endorphin are stored in separate granules in hypothalamic POMC neurons, suggesting that secretion may be under the control of different regulatory mechanisms. ACTH and MSH are produced by the pituitary gland. Specific enzymatic cleavages at paired basic residues yield the different active peptides. O-glycosylated; reducing sugar is probably N-acetylgalactosamine. Disease susceptibility may be associated with variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the POMC family. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone entry