β-Endorphin antagonizes the effects of α-MSH on food intake and body weight.

Dutia R, Meece K, Dighe S, Kim AJ, Wardlaw SL

Endocrinology9 Jul 2012Cited by 49 (Europe PMC)

PMID22778225PMCIDPMC3423622DOI10.1210/en.2012-1166PepBankPUB-22778225

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 study7

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

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male rats given chronic intracerebroventricular infusion, weight gain was significantly suppressed in the NDP-MSH group during the entire study.
In plain wordsIn male rats, NDP-MSH infused into the brain significantly reduced weight gain throughout the study.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseWeight gain during chronic NDP-MSH infusion
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intracerebroventricularAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Finally, peptide interactions were studied in a chronic icv infusion model. Weight gain and food intake were significantly suppressed in the NDP-MSH group during the entire study.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
Report a problemFND-2277822501
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male rats given chronic intracerebroventricular infusion, food intake was significantly suppressed in the NDP-MSH group during the entire study.
In plain wordsIn male rats, NDP-MSH infused into the brain significantly reduced food intake throughout the study.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseFood intake during chronic NDP-MSH infusion
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intracerebroventricularAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Finally, peptide interactions were studied in a chronic icv infusion model. Weight gain and food intake were significantly suppressed in the NDP-MSH group during the entire study.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
Report a problemFND-2277822502

Studies that did not test the peptide alone5

In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).

03AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In fasted male rats, a subthreshold dose of beta-endorphin given with NDP-MSH partially reversed the negative effect of NDP-MSH on refeeding.
In plain wordsIn fasted male rats, a small dose of beta-endorphin given with NDP-MSH partly cancelled the NDP-MSH drop in refeeding.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseRefeeding after fasting with NDP-MSH plus subthreshold beta-endorphin
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
In the next study, a subthreshold dose of β-EP was injected together with Nle(4), d-Phe(7) (NDP)-MSH after a 16-h fast, and the negative effects of NDP-MSH on refeeding and body weight gain were partially reversed.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).
Report a problemFND-2277822503
04AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In fasted male rats, a subthreshold dose of beta-endorphin given with NDP-MSH partially reversed the negative effect of NDP-MSH on body weight gain.
In plain wordsIn fasted male rats, a small dose of beta-endorphin given with NDP-MSH partly cancelled the NDP-MSH drop in weight gain.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseBody weight gain with NDP-MSH plus subthreshold beta-endorphin
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
In the next study, a subthreshold dose of β-EP was injected together with Nle(4), d-Phe(7) (NDP)-MSH after a 16-h fast, and the negative effects of NDP-MSH on refeeding and body weight gain were partially reversed.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).
Report a problemFND-2277822504
05AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male rats given chronic infusion, a subthreshold dose of beta-endorphin antagonized the suppressive effect of NDP-MSH on food intake for the first 3 days.
In plain wordsIn male rats, a small dose of beta-endorphin blocked the NDP-MSH drop in food intake for the first 3 days.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseFood intake with chronic NDP-MSH plus subthreshold beta-endorphin, first 3 days
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
A subthreshold dose of β-EP antagonized these suppressive effects on food intake and weight gain for the first 3 d.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).
Report a problemFND-2277822505
06AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male rats given chronic infusion, a subthreshold dose of beta-endorphin antagonized the suppressive effect of NDP-MSH on weight gain for the first 3 days.
In plain wordsIn male rats, a small dose of beta-endorphin blocked the NDP-MSH drop in weight gain for the first 3 days.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseWeight gain with chronic NDP-MSH plus subthreshold beta-endorphin, first 3 days
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Body weight · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
A subthreshold dose of β-EP antagonized these suppressive effects on food intake and weight gain for the first 3 d.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).
Report a problemFND-2277822506
07AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male rats given chronic infusion, beta-endorphin no longer blocked the suppressive effects of NDP-MSH on days 4-7.
In plain wordsIn male rats, beta-endorphin no longer blocked the NDP-MSH effects on days 4 to 7.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
No significant changeBeta-endorphin block of NDP-MSH effects on days 4-7
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Intracerebroventricular infusion or injection in male rats
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
However on d 4-7, β-EP no longer blocked these effects.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this study we examined the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) β-EP on food intake and its ability to antagonize the negative effects of α-MSH on energy balance in male rats.
In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).
Report a problemFND-2277822507

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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