# Melanotan 2 References: The Cited Studies & Case Reports

> Melanotan 2 references — the full citation list behind this site, with PubMed links: pilot trials, neuro-behavioral studies, and the safety case reports.

## The literature

Every quantitative claim on this Melanotan 2 site maps to a numbered source below. Links resolve to PubMed. Where a finding rests on a case report, that is stated on the page — case reports describe single patients and cannot establish how common an effect is. The full list follows.

## 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 Sci. 1996;58(20):1777-1784. 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. J Urol. 1998;160(2):389-393. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9679884/
[3] Minakova E, et al. Melanotan-II reverses autistic features in a maternal immune activation mouse model of autism. PLoS One. 2019;14(1):e0210389. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30629642/
[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 Rep. 2020;9(2):159-161. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31953620/
[5] 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. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36155088/
[6] Hadley ME, Dorr RT. Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization. Peptides. 2006;27(4):921-930. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16412534/
[7] 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. Eur J Pharmacol. 2003;462(1-3):179-183. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12591111/
[8] Paiva L, Sabatier N, Leng G, Ludwig M. Effect of Melanotan-II on Brain Fos Immunoreactivity and Oxytocin Neuronal Activity and Secretion in Rats. J Neuroendocrinol. 2017;29(2):e12454. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28009464/
[9] Borie AM, et al. Melanocortin agonism in a social context selectively activates nucleus accumbens in an oxytocin-dependent manner. Neuropharmacology. 2024;109848. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38253222/
[10] Melanotan-associated melanoma. [Case report]. 2011. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21564053/
[11] Eruptive dysplastic nevi following melanotan use. [Case report]. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22425244/
[12] Manchenko DM, et al. Antidepressant-like and antistress effects of the ACTH(4-10) synthetic analogs Semax and Melanotan II on male rats in a model of chronic unpredictable stress. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024;177068. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39442746/
[13] Dermoscopic changes in melanocytic nevi during use of melanotan II. [Case report]. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23052015/
[14] Changes of melanocytic lesions induced by Melanotan injections and sun bed use in a teenage patient with FAMMM syndrome. [Case report]. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23785612/
[15] Melanotan-associated melanoma in situ. [Case report]. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22724573/
[16] Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis. [Case report]. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23121206/
[17] Melanotan II overdose associated with priapism. [Case report]. 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23537392/
[18] Melanotan Tanning Injection: A Rare Cause of Priapism. [Case report]. 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33460908/
[19] Melanotan and the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. [Case report]. 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23648958/
[20] Hemodynamic actions and mechanisms of systemically administered alpha-MSH analogs in mice. 2012. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22982611/
[21] Systemic but not central nervous system nitric oxide synthase inhibition exacerbates the hypertensive effects of chronic melanocortin-3/4 receptor activation. 2011. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21263126/
[22] Identification and characterization by LC-UV-MS/MS of melanotan II skin-tanning products sold illegally on the Internet. 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24771717/
[23] LC-HRMS characterization of the skin pigmentation and sexual enhancers melanotan II and bremelanotide sold on the black market of performance and image enhancing drugs. 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33245851/
[24] Barbie drug identification: Not a child's play. 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39302005/
[25] Risks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a review. 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28266027/
[26] The unregulated use of melanotan-II is of public health interest to Australian dermatologists. 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28905366/
[27] Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria. 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26132941/
[28] PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. 2003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12851303/
[29] Discovery and development of novel melanogenic drugs. Melanotan-I and -II. 1998. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9760697/
[30] Change in moles linked to use of unlicensed "sun tan jab". 2009. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19174439/
[31] Bonchev A. Changes in Oral Mucosa Associated with Melanotan II Injections: A Case Report. Life (Basel). 2026;16(2):265. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41752902/

---

A brain-first reading of the melanocortin literature — studies summarized, nothing prescribed.