Synthetically developed Melanotan peptides, specifically Melanotan l and Melanotan ll have shown a range of skin pigment changes in lab tests in vitro as well as in laboratory rats, mice and guinea pigs. Researchers are now able to demonstrate how the synthetically produced analogs can be accurately called as superpotent as well as long acting. These Melanotan peptides are also emyzmatically resistant, which means they do not break down as quickly at a cellular level as the natural occurring melanocortins do.
This all leads to the wealth of research on using Melanotan peptides in a variety of test and trails in the lab. Universally these tests have shown positive results in everything from decreasing caloric intake to boosting sexual behavior. However, they are also being tested for the treatment of skin cancer, skin tanning to prevent the development of cancerous cells as well as in energy boosting and weight loss in rats, mice and guinea pigs.
Interesting Rat Study
In the 2004 August issue of Peptides, researchers demonstrated the effects of Melanotan ll, one of the Melanotan peptides, in a strain of rats. These rats, known as Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty Rats, are bred to genetically be predisposed to a variety of conditions. These include diabetes, mild obesity, insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.
When researchers subcutaneously injected these rats with Melanotan ll it was found that the rats voluntarily decreased their overall food intake. In addition they lost body weight and increased their sensitivity to insulin in the body. They also had lower glucose levels, decreasing hyperglycemia, which in turn led to weight loss and lower calorie intake.
Promising Results
Lab results have also demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro in guinea pigs that Melanotan peptides do boost and sustain the production of brown pigment in skin cells. This brown pigment is essential in preventing photosensitivity and also in decreasing the risk of UV damage to the skin that can lead to skin cancer.
The study of Melanotan peptides is ongoing with more interest in the possibilities of these peptides than ever. As researchers learn how these peptides interact with in vitro and in vivo cells in the lab there is an increased chance that these peptides may become a possibility for wider studies and further research. Melanotan l and ll have been shown to benefit genetically obese rats and help to control glucose levels and boost insulin sensitivity.
