Source comparison
Melanotan-2 Animal Research: Species & Outcomes Comparison
C57BL/6 Mice Coat darkening via melanogenesis 0.025–0.1 mg/kg SC daily 7–14 days visible pigmentation MC1R primarily, MC4R co-activated Established baseline dose-response for eumelanin induction Sprague-Dawley Rats Appetite suppression and penile erection 0.05
This comparison does not assign a generated winner or score.
- C57BL/6 Mice
- Coat darkening via melanogenesis
- 0.025–0.1 mg/kg SC daily
- 7–14 days visible pigmentation
- MC1R primarily, MC4R co-activated
- Established baseline dose-response for eumelanin induction
- Sprague-Dawley Rats
- Appetite suppression and penile erection
- 0.05–0.2 mg/kg SC single dose
- 90–180 minutes erectile response, 18–24h anorexia
- MC3R/MC4R (appetite), MC4R (erectile)
- Confirmed central melanocortin pathway involvement in non-pigmentation effects
- New Zealand White Rabbits
- Ear pigmentation persistence
- 0.5 mg SC single dose
- 10–14 days visible darkening
- MC1R with prolonged downstream signaling
- Demonstrated receptor activation triggers sustained melanogenesis beyond plasma half-life
- Rhesus Macaques
- UV-induced DNA damage (CPD lesions)
- 0.02 mg/kg SC 3×/week for 4 weeks
- 40% reduction in CPD formation post-UVB
- MC1R (photoprotection pathway)
- Proved functional photoprotective benefit but confirmed appetite suppression as unavoidable co-effect
- Albino Wistar Rats
- Non-pigmentation melanocortin effects
- 0.1 mg/kg SC
- No pigmentation; appetite/erectile effects intact
- MC3R/MC4R only (MC1R non-functional)
- Isolated MC4R pathway effects independent of MC1R, proving multi-target mechanism
- Guinea Pigs
- Eumelanin vs pheomelanin selectivity
- 0.05–0.15 mg/kg SC
- Eumelanin increased, pheomelanin minimal change
- MC1R preferentially
- Confirmed receptor pathway selectivity within pigmentation system favors brown-black pigment synthesis