ß-lipotropin (LPH) and ß-enkephalin are hormones that help to regulate mood.
The corticotroph cells of the anterior pituitary produce a pro-hormone referred to as pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) that is subsequently cleaved to form ACTH and LPH. LPH is further metabolized to produce ß-endorphins, which help the body tolerate pain and can promote positive feelings.
The neurotransmitter ß-enkephalin is also produced from the POMC pro-hormone and binds opioid receptors to facilitate the tolerance of pain.
