# Melanotan 2 References — Published Literature with DOIs and PubMed Links

> Complete references for Melanotan 2 (MT-II) studies cited on this site — Phase I trials, preclinical research, pharmacovigilance case reports, and pharmacokinetic papers. DOIs and PubMed URLs listed.

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.

## Published References

[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. DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(96)00160-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8637402/

[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. DOI: 10.1097/00005392-199808000-00034. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9679884/

[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. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3900582. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11035391/

[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. DOI: 10.1007/s13730-020-00447-z. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7148395/

[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. DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0290. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28051332/

[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. DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2022.102289. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36155088/

[7] Gilhooley E, Daly S, McKenna D. Melanotan II User Experience: A Qualitative Study of Online Discussion Forums. Dermatology. 2021;237(6):966-975. DOI: 10.1159/000514492. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34464955/

[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. DOI: 10.5826/dpc.0203a10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23785612/

[9] Hjuler KF, Lorentzen HF. Melanoma associated with the use of melanotan-II. Dermatology. 2014;228(1):34-36. DOI: 10.1159/000356389. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24355990/

[10] Mallory CW, Lopategui DM, Cordon BH. Melanotan Tanning Injection: A Rare Cause of Priapism. Sexual Medicine. 2021;9(1):100298. DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100298. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33460908/

[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. DOI: 10.1172/JCI152341. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36189794/

[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. DOI: 10.1007/s00125-005-1838-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15971058/

[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. DOI: 10.1016/s0014-2999(02)02945-x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12591111/

[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. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2003.00962.x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12535159/

[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. DOI: 10.1111/jne.12454. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28009464/

[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. DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2510150505. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7981427/

[17] Deville M, Charlier C. Barbie drug identification: Not a child's play. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2024;69(6):2192-2199. DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15633. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39302005/

[18] Hadley ME. Discovery that a melanocortin regulates sexual functions in male and female humans. Peptides. 2005;26(10):1687-1689. DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2005.01.023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15996790/

[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. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.20144. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38808957/

[20] Hueso-Gabriel L, Mahiques Santos L, Terradez Mas L, Santonja Lopez N. Eruptive dysplastic nevi following melanotan use. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2012;103(8):740-742. DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2011.10.001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22425244/

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An editorial reading of the peer-reviewed Melanotan 2 record — Phase I trials, preclinical mechanism studies, and pharmacovigilance case reports, indexed to source.