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Melanotan II Guia & Tabela de Dose

A melanocortin agonist researched for pigmentation and libido.

Também conhecido comoMT-II
Meia-vida~1 h
Viasubcutaneous
Melanotan II — Tabela de dose
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What is Melanotan II?

Melanotan II (often shortened to MT-II) is a synthetic peptide built to mimic a natural hormone called alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). That hormone is produced in your brain and skin, and it plays a role in pigmentation, appetite, and sexual function. MT-II is a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist — meaning it latches onto and activates a family of receptors (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and others) found throughout the body.[5] Because it hits several receptors at once, it has a broad range of effects that researchers find interesting — and that also means a broader range of potential side effects worth understanding.

MT-II is strictly a research compound. It is not approved by any regulatory agency for human use, and nothing on this page should be taken as medical advice.

How Melanotan II Works

Think of melanocortin receptors like locks on a door. α-MSH is the natural key. MT-II is a slightly different, lab-made key that fits the same locks — and in some cases turns them more powerfully than the natural version.

  • Skin pigmentation: Activating MC1R on melanocyte cells (the cells that make skin pigment) ramps up melanin production, which darkens the skin.[2]
  • Sexual arousal: Activating MC4R in the brain influences pathways tied to libido and erection. This is why MT-II has been researched in the context of sexual dysfunction.[5]
  • Brain and behavior: MC3R and MC4R are also found in areas of the brain linked to memory, mood, and social behavior, which is why some researchers are exploring neurological angles.[1][3]

What the Research Shows

Most MT-II research is preclinical — meaning it has been done in animals or studied through observational data, not large human clinical trials. Here is a plain-language summary of what the published science says so far:

Memory and High-Fat Diet Effects

A 2023 study using zebrafish found that even a short-term high-fat diet harmed recognition memory and raised anxiety levels. When those same fish were treated with MT-II, their memory, anxiety, and exploratory behavior returned to normal levels — as if the diet damage had been reversed.[1] This is an early, animal-based finding, but it suggests MT-II may interact with diet-related brain changes in interesting ways.

Autism-Like Behaviors in Mice

Researchers at UCLA used a mouse model designed to produce autism-like features. Male mice in this model showed reduced social interaction, less vocal communication, and more repetitive behaviors. After seven days of MT-II treatment, social behavior metrics improved significantly. The researchers suggested this may work partly through MT-II's ability to stimulate oxytocin-related pathways in the brain.[3]

Skin Tanning and Real-World Use

A qualitative study looked at hundreds of posts in UK and Ireland online forums where people discussed using MT-II as an unsanctioned tanning agent. Users were motivated by wanting a tan look ahead of holidays or bodybuilding competitions. The study flagged serious concerns: contaminated products, misuse, polypharmacy, and risky practices like combining MT-II with sunbed sessions.[2] Clinicians were urged to watch for skin lesion changes in people who may be using it without medical supervision.

Reported Use in the General Public

As early as 2009, a BMJ report noted that both Melanotan I and Melanotan II were already circulating in the general population through unregulated internet markets, raising public health concerns about safety and lack of oversight.[6]

Kidney Risks

A case report documented a patient who developed a renal infarction — a blockage of blood flow to the kidney — that was likely linked to MT-II use. The authors reviewed the literature and identified possible mechanisms including thrombotic (clot-forming) effects and direct toxic damage to kidney tissue.[5] This is a serious, though rare, reported adverse event.

What Melanotan II Is Being Studied For

  • Skin pigmentation and tanning responses[2]
  • Sexual dysfunction and libido[5]
  • Memory and cognitive impairment linked to diet[1]
  • Autism spectrum disorder behavioral features (animal models)[3]
  • General melanocortin system pharmacology[6]

How Melanotan II Is Dosed in Research

Research dosing protocols for MT-II vary considerably across studies and are highly dependent on the model being used (animal species, body weight, route of administration, and research goal). Rather than list figures that could be misapplied, we encourage you to review the dosage chart on this page, which organizes published research dosing ranges by study context. You can also use the calculator on this page to explore weight-based scaling used in preclinical work. Remember: these figures are for research reference only.

Mixing and Storing Melanotan II

In research settings, MT-II typically comes as a lyophilized powder — a freeze-dried white or off-white solid sealed in a vial. To use it in experiments, researchers reconstitute it by adding a sterile diluent, most commonly bacteriostatic water (sterile water containing a small amount of benzyl alcohol to inhibit bacterial growth). The liquid is added slowly down the side of the vial — not squirted directly onto the powder — and the vial is gently swirled, never shaken hard, to avoid degrading the peptide. Once mixed, MT-II solution should be stored in a refrigerator (around 2–8 °C / 36–46 °F) and kept away from light. Unmixed, lyophilized vials can generally be stored frozen for longer periods. Always label vials with the date of reconstitution and follow your institution's protocols for handling research peptides.

Sources

  1. Melanotan-II reverses memory impairment induced by a short-term HF diet. — Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 2023. PMID 37478579.
  2. Melanotan II User Experience: A Qualitative Study of Online Discussion Forums. — Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2021. PMID 34464955.
  3. Melanotan-II reverses autistic features in a maternal immune activation mouse model of autism. — PloS one, 2019. PMID 30629642.
  4. Metallothionein in Brain Disorders. — Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2017. PMID 29085556.
  5. Melanotan II: a possible cause of renal infarction: review of the literature and case report. — CEN case reports, 2020. PMID 31953620.
  6. Use of melanotan I and II in the general population. — BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2009. PMID 19224885.

Melanotan II Perguntas

What is Melanotan II?
Melanotan II (MT-II) is a synthetic peptide that mimics alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, a natural hormone involved in skin pigmentation, appetite, and sexual function. It activates melanocortin receptors throughout the body and brain.[5] It is a research compound only and is not approved for human therapeutic use by any regulatory authority.
How does Melanotan II work?
MT-II acts as a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist, meaning it binds to and activates multiple melanocortin receptors (MC1R through MC4R).[5] Activating MC1R in skin cells increases melanin (pigment) production, while activating MC4R in the brain influences pathways related to sexual arousal and, according to animal studies, also memory and social behavior.[1][3]
What is Melanotan II used for in research?
Researchers are studying MT-II for several areas: skin pigmentation responses, sexual dysfunction, memory impairment linked to high-fat diet (in zebrafish models)[1], and autism-like social behavioral deficits in mouse models.[3] Real-world observational data has also documented widespread unsanctioned tanning use, which raises safety concerns.[2]
How is Melanotan II dosed?
Dosing in published research varies widely depending on the animal model, body weight, and research goal. There is no standardized human dose, and MT-II is not approved for human use. For research reference purposes, see the dosage chart and calculator on this page, which reflect parameters reported in preclinical literature. Never use these figures as personal dosing guidance.
How do you reconstitute Melanotan II?
In research settings, MT-II lyophilized powder is typically dissolved in bacteriostatic water. The diluent is added slowly down the inside wall of the vial and gently swirled — not shaken — to avoid degrading the peptide. The reconstituted solution should be refrigerated at 2–8 °C and kept away from light. Always follow institutional protocols and label vials with the reconstitution date.
Is Melanotan II safe?
MT-II is not approved for human use and carries documented risks. A case report linked it to renal infarction (kidney blood flow blockage).[5] Forum-based research flagged risks including contaminated unregulated products, infectious disease transmission, polypharmacy interactions, and concerning skin lesion changes.[2] Animal studies noted weight loss as a side effect.[3] This compound should only be handled in a proper research context.