Melanocortin receptor agonists, penile erection, and sexual motivation: human studies with Melanotan II

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Melanotan II and ACTH (Corticotropin), published as a controlled clinical trial.

The researchers review their experience with Melanotan II, a non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist, in human subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Melanotan II was administered to 20 men with psychogenic and organic ED using a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 20 men were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were teenagers, adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, men only.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Blinding on both sides kept the men and researchers unaware of who received Melanotan II.

Some men received a placebo instead of Melanotan II, giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Melanotan II and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

Level of sexual desire and side effects were reported with a questionnaire.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Erectile Dysfunction, Libido, Nausea, Penile Erection, Peptides, Cyclic, Reaction Time and Receptors, Corticotropin.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study of Melanotan II and ACTH (Corticotropin) in 20 men.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (International journal of impotence research), a journal based in England.

More context: the Melanotan II compound page and the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page, all human trials.