Melanotan II (MT-2)

Melanotan II is a cyclic synthetic analog of alpha-MSH studied in melanocortin receptor research. Lyophilized powder. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water for in-vitro research. Store at -20°C. Certificate of Analysis attached to this listing.

Melanotan 2 works by turning on a family of receptors in your body called melanocortin receptors. These receptors sit on different cells and control different things: skin pigment, hunger, sexual signaling, and more. Most modern drugs are designed to hit only one receptor. MT-2 hits several at once. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]

Melanotan II (MT-2) is a synthetic peptide that mimics the action of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), a natural hormone in the body that regulates skin pigmentation. By binding to melanocortin receptors, particularly the MC1R receptor, MT-2 stimulates the production of melanin in the skin, leading to increased pigmentation. This mechanism allows for tanning without the need for prolonged sun exposure, which is the primary goal of its development at the University of Arizona in the 1980s and 1990s.

The peptide is administered primarily through subcutaneous injections, with a common dosing protocol involving a loading phase followed by maintenance doses. During the loading phase, users typically start with doses ranging from 100 to 250 mcg daily, which can be increased to 500-1000 mcg as tolerance to side effects, particularly nausea, improves. After achieving the desired pigmentation, maintenance doses of 500-1000 mcg are administered 1-2 times per week to sustain the tanning effect.

Clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of MT-2 includes several small studies conducted in the 1990s and early 2000s. For instance, Dorr et al. (1996) demonstrated clear pigmentation gains alongside frequent nausea and spontaneous erections in healthy volunteers. Wessells et al. (1998) and Wessells et al. (2000) reported strong erection-response signals and improved sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction, indicating that MT-2 may also influence sexual arousal through central nervous system pathways. However, the side effects, particularly nausea, were significant, leading to a cautious approach in its use.

Overall, while MT-2 shows promise for tanning and sexual function enhancement, its side effect profile and the lack of large-scale modern trials have led researchers to develop more selective successors, such as afamelanotide and bremelanotide, which have received FDA approval for specific conditions. [Source: Peptide Dosing Protocols]

Amino sequence: Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH₂

COA: View certificate (batch TET-4901-A) →

Teton Labs product catalog · research-use compound data.