Activation of the melanocortin-1 receptor attenuates neuronal apoptosis after traumatic brain injury by upregulating Merlin expression.

Lu J, Wang J, Ni H, Li B, Yang J, Zhu J, Qian J, Gao R, Xu R

Brain research bulletin5 Jan 2024Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID38185389DOI10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.110870PepBankPUB-38185389

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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: CC BY-NC-ND. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

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

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with traumatic brain injury, MC1R activation by NDP-MSH promoted Merlin expression.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain injury, activating MC1R raised Merlin protein levels.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseMerlin expression
Study
ratn: not reported in source
controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
activation of MC1R promoted Merlin expression.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A rat model of TBI was established through controlled cortical impact.
Summary · context
The MC1R-specific agonist Nle4-D-Phe7-α-Melanocyte (NDP-MSH) and the inhibitor MSG-606 were employed to explore the effects of MC1R and Merlin following TBI and investigated the associated mechanisms.
Report a problemFND-3818538902
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with traumatic brain injury, MC1R activation significantly improved neurological dysfunction.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain injury, activating MC1R improved nerve function.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseNeurological dysfunction
Study
ratn: not reported in source
controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
we found that MC1R activation significantly improved neurological dysfunction and reduced brain edema and neuronal apoptosis induced by TBI in rats.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A rat model of TBI was established through controlled cortical impact.
Summary · context
The MC1R-specific agonist Nle4-D-Phe7-α-Melanocyte (NDP-MSH) and the inhibitor MSG-606 were employed to explore the effects of MC1R and Merlin following TBI and investigated the associated mechanisms.
Report a problemFND-3818538903
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with traumatic brain injury, MC1R activation reduced brain edema.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain injury, activating MC1R reduced brain swelling.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseBrain edema
Study
ratn: not reported in source
controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
we found that MC1R activation significantly improved neurological dysfunction and reduced brain edema and neuronal apoptosis induced by TBI in rats.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A rat model of TBI was established through controlled cortical impact.
Summary · context
The MC1R-specific agonist Nle4-D-Phe7-α-Melanocyte (NDP-MSH) and the inhibitor MSG-606 were employed to explore the effects of MC1R and Merlin following TBI and investigated the associated mechanisms.
Report a problemFND-3818538904
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats with traumatic brain injury, MC1R activation reduced neuronal apoptosis.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain injury, activating MC1R reduced nerve cell death.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseNeuronal apoptosis
Study
ratn: not reported in source
controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
we found that MC1R activation significantly improved neurological dysfunction and reduced brain edema and neuronal apoptosis induced by TBI in rats.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A rat model of TBI was established through controlled cortical impact.
Summary · context
The MC1R-specific agonist Nle4-D-Phe7-α-Melanocyte (NDP-MSH) and the inhibitor MSG-606 were employed to explore the effects of MC1R and Merlin following TBI and investigated the associated mechanisms.
Report a problemFND-3818538905

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

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).

05AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats with traumatic brain injury, the expression levels of MC1R and Merlin were upregulated after injury.
In plain wordsIn rats with brain injury, levels of the MC1R receptor and Merlin protein rose after the injury.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseMC1R and Merlin expression after TBI
Study
ratn: not reported in source
controlled cortical impact model of traumatic brain injury
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
The results showed that the expression levels of MC1R and Merlin were upregulated after TBI
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A rat model of TBI was established through controlled cortical impact.
Summary · context
The MC1R-specific agonist Nle4-D-Phe7-α-Melanocyte (NDP-MSH) and the inhibitor MSG-606 were employed to explore the effects of MC1R and Merlin following TBI and investigated the associated mechanisms.
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-3818538901

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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