Published Literature

Melanotan 2 References — Published Literature with DOIs and PubMed Links

All Melanotan 2 (MT-II) findings cited across this site are sourced from the published references listed below. Citations are numbered to match inline [N] markers throughout site text. Where a DOI is available, it is provided; where a PubMed record exists, the PMID link is provided.

  1. [1] Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, Brooks C, Xiang L, Hruby VJ, Hadley ME. Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study. Life Sciences. 1996;58(20):1777–1784. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(96)00160-9
  2. [2] Wessells H, Fuciarelli K, Hansen J, Hadley ME, Hruby VJ, Dorr R, Levine N. Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study. Journal of Urology. 1998;160(2):389–393. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1097/00005392-199808000-00034
  3. [3] Wessells H, Levine N, Hadley ME, Dorr R, Hruby V. Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II. International Journal of Impotence Research. 2000;12 Suppl 4:S74–S79. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900582
  4. [4] Peters B, Hadimeri H, Wahlberg R, Afghahi H. Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report. CEN Case Reports. 2020;9(2):150–153. PMC ↗ DOI: 10.1007/s13730-020-00447-z
  5. [5] Cote I, Sakarya Y, Kirichenko N, Morgan D, Carter CS, Tumer N, Scarpace PJ. Activation of the central melanocortin system chronically reduces body mass without the necessity of long-term caloric restriction. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 2017;95(2):206–214. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0290
  6. [6] Eliason NL, Martin L, Low MJ, Sharpe AL. Melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II microinjected in the nucleus accumbens decreases appetitive and consumptive responding for food. Neuropeptides. 2022;96:102289. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102289
  7. [7] Gilhooley E, Daly S, McKenna D. Melanotan II User Experience: A Qualitative Study of Online Discussion Forums. Dermatology. 2021;237(6):966–975. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1159/000514492
  8. [8] Sivyer GW. Changes of melanocytic lesions induced by Melanotan injections and sun bed use in a teenage patient with FAMMM syndrome. Dermatology Practice and Concept. 2012;2(3):202a10. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.5826/dpc.0203a10
  9. [9] Hjuler KF, Lorentzen HF. Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Dermatology. 2014;228(1):34–36. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1159/000356389
  10. [10] Mallory CW, Lopategui DM, Cordon BH. Melanotan Tanning Injection: A Rare Cause of Priapism. Sexual Medicine. 2021;9(1):100298. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100298
  11. [11] Thurston L, Hunjan T, Mills EG, et al. Melanocortin 4 receptor agonism enhances sexual brain processing in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2022;132(19):e152341. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1172/JCI152341
  12. [12] Heijboer AC, van den Hoek AM, Pijl H, et al. Intracerebroventricular administration of melanotan II increases insulin sensitivity of glucose disposal in mice. Diabetologia. 2005;48(8):1621–1626. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1007/s00125-005-1838-8
  13. [13] Ter Laak MP, Brakkee JH, Adan RA, Hamers FP, Gispen WH. The potent melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II promotes peripheral nerve regeneration and has neuroprotective properties in the rat. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2003;462(1-3):179–183. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(02)02945-x
  14. [14] Raposinho PD, White RB, Aubert ML. The melanocortin agonist Melanotan-II reduces the orexigenic and adipogenic effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) but does not affect the NPY-driven suppressive effects on the gonadotropic and somatotropic axes in the male rat. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 2003;15(2):173–181. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.00962.x
  15. [15] Paiva L, Sabatier N, Leng G, Ludwig M. Effect of Melanotan-II on Brain Fos Immunoreactivity and Oxytocin Neuronal Activity and Secretion in Rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 2017;29(2):e12453. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1111/jne.12454
  16. [16] Ugwu SO, Blanchard J, Nguyen LD, Hadley ME, Dorr RT. A comparison of HPLC and bioassay methods for plasma melanotan-II (MT-II) determination: application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats. Biopharmaceutics and Drug Disposition. 1994;15(6):487–499. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2510150505
  17. [17] Deville M, Charlier C. Barbie drug identification: Not a child's play. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2024;69(6):2192–2199. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15633
  18. [18] Hadley ME. Discovery that a melanocortin regulates sexual functions in male and female humans. Peptides. 2005;26(10):1687–1689. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2005.01.023
  19. [19] Orr E, Grechin C, Kearney N, Yoo L, O'Meara C, Watchorn R. The 'Barbie Drug' — marketing and perceptions of melanotan on social media. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2025;39(3):e308–e310. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1111/jdv.20144
  20. [20] Hueso-Gabriel L, Mahiques Santos L, Terrádez Mas L, Santonja López N. Eruptive dysplastic nevi following melanotan use. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2012;103(8):740–742. PubMed ↗ DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2011.10.001