Toxicologic studies of a superpotent alpha-melanotropin, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH.

Dorr RT, Dawson BV, al-Obeidi F, Hadley ME, Levine N, Hruby VJ

Investigational new drugs1 Dec 1988Cited by 17 (Europe PMC)

PMID2852652DOI10.1007/bf00173642PepBankPUB-02852652

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In mice given NDP-MSH up to 2 mg/kg for 4 or 12 weeks, no toxic effects were observed in various organs.
In plain wordsIn mice, NDP-MSH given for 4 or 12 weeks caused no toxic effects in organs.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
No significant changeOrgan toxicity
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg daily or weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 4 or 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
Mice were administered up to 2 mg/kg of the analog daily and weekly over 4 or 12 weeks by both topical application (in 90% DMSO) or by IP injections (in physiologic saline).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
no toxic effects were observed in various organs, on hematologic indices, or on weight gain.
Report a problemFND-0285265201
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In mice given NDP-MSH, no toxic effects were observed on hematologic indices.
In plain wordsIn mice, NDP-MSH caused no toxic effects on blood counts.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
No significant changeHematologic indices
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg daily or weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 4 or 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
At the end of this period, no toxic effects were observed in various organs, on hematologic indices, or on weight gain.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A toxicology study was performed in mice given a superpotent alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) analog.
Summary · context
This 13 amino acid derivative, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH or NDP-MSH, is a melanotropin which is very slowly biodegraded in vivo and is active at 1/1,000 the concentration of natural alpha-MSH.
Report a problemFND-0285265202
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In mice given NDP-MSH, no toxic effects were observed on weight gain.
In plain wordsIn mice, NDP-MSH did not affect weight gain.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
No significant changeWeight gain
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg daily or weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 4 or 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
At the end of this period, no toxic effects were observed in various organs, on hematologic indices, or on weight gain.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A toxicology study was performed in mice given a superpotent alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) analog.
Summary · context
This 13 amino acid derivative, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH or NDP-MSH, is a melanotropin which is very slowly biodegraded in vivo and is active at 1/1,000 the concentration of natural alpha-MSH.
Report a problemFND-0285265203
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
A slight increase in triglyceride levels was noted in mice given NDP-MSH weekly for 12 weeks.
In plain wordsIn mice, weekly NDP-MSH for 12 weeks slightly raised triglyceride levels.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseSerum triglyceride level
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Lipids · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
A slight increase in triglyceride and platelet levels were noted in mice given the analog weekly for 12 weeks.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A toxicology study was performed in mice given a superpotent alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) analog.
Summary · context
This 13 amino acid derivative, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH or NDP-MSH, is a melanotropin which is very slowly biodegraded in vivo and is active at 1/1,000 the concentration of natural alpha-MSH.
Report a problemFND-0285265204
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
A slight increase in platelet levels was noted in mice given NDP-MSH weekly for 12 weeks.
In plain wordsIn mice, weekly NDP-MSH for 12 weeks slightly raised platelet levels.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreasePlatelet level
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
A slight increase in triglyceride and platelet levels were noted in mice given the analog weekly for 12 weeks.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A toxicology study was performed in mice given a superpotent alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) analog.
Summary · context
This 13 amino acid derivative, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH or NDP-MSH, is a melanotropin which is very slowly biodegraded in vivo and is active at 1/1,000 the concentration of natural alpha-MSH.
Report a problemFND-0285265205
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In mice given NDP-MSH, there was no evidence of an effect on behavior.
In plain wordsIn mice, NDP-MSH had no sign of an effect on behavior.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
No significant changeBehavior
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg daily or weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 4 or 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
There was no evidence of an effect on behavior nor ACTH-like endocrine actions such as elevated serum cortisol levels.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A toxicology study was performed in mice given a superpotent alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) analog.
Summary · context
This 13 amino acid derivative, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH or NDP-MSH, is a melanotropin which is very slowly biodegraded in vivo and is active at 1/1,000 the concentration of natural alpha-MSH.
Report a problemFND-0285265206
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In mice given NDP-MSH, there was no evidence of ACTH-like endocrine actions such as elevated serum cortisol.
In plain wordsIn mice, NDP-MSH did not raise cortisol or cause other ACTH-like hormone effects.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
No significant changeACTH-like endocrine actions (serum cortisol)
Study
mousen: not reported in source
mice
Outcome group
Adverse events · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
up to 2 mg/kg daily or weekly · topical (in 90% DMSO) or intraperitoneal (in saline) · 4 or 12 weeksAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
There was no evidence of an effect on behavior nor ACTH-like endocrine actions such as elevated serum cortisol levels.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A toxicology study was performed in mice given a superpotent alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) analog.
Summary · context
This 13 amino acid derivative, [Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH or NDP-MSH, is a melanotropin which is very slowly biodegraded in vivo and is active at 1/1,000 the concentration of natural alpha-MSH.
Report a problemFND-0285265207
08LabEx vivo tissuePharmacokinetics
In diffusion studies with full-thickness mouse skin, NDP-MSH diffused reproducibly: about 0.002% of a 10(-4) M preparation in DMSO/water and 0.05% in a PEG/alcohol cream base was delivered.
In plain wordsIn lab tests on mouse skin, a small share of NDP-MSH crossed the skin, from about 0.002% to 0.05% depending on the base.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
Not applicableTransdermal delivery through mouse skin in vitro
Study
mousen: not reported in source
full-thickness mouse skin in diffusion studies
Outcome group
Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacology
Studied dose
10(-4) M preparation · transdermalAs given in this study (mouse).
Measurements
Transdermal delivery
0.002 % of 10(-4) M preparation
DMSO/water solution
Transdermal delivery
0.05 % of 10(-4) M preparation
PEG/alcohol cream base
Source sentences
Summary
Transdermal drug delivery studies performed in vitro showed reproducible diffusion of the NDP-MSH analog through full-thickness mouse skin.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Approximately 0.002% to 0.05% of a 10(-4) M preparation was transdermally delivered using a DMSO/water solution or a PEG/alcohol cream base, respectively.
Report a problemFND-0285265208

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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