title: Induction of skin tanning by subcutaneous administration of a potent synthetic melanotropin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE--To determine the efficacy of short-term administration of a synthetic analogue of alpha-melanotropin, [Nle4D-Phe7] (NDP)-alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH), in darkening (tanning) human skin. DESIGN--Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. SETTING--Clinical research unit of a university medical center. SUBJECTS--Twenty-eight healthy white men with a history of either poor tanning (skin type I or II) or good tanning (skin type III or IV) recruited from advertisements and paid to participate in the study. METHODS--Each subject received 10 subcutaneous injections of either a purified NDP preparation or saline over 12 days. They were followed up for 7 weeks after therapy was completed. All subjects used a high-potency sunscreen during the trial. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Skin darkening was quantified by serial chromaticity measurements prior to, during, and after therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  -A significant parabolic curve of skin darkening activity was noted in subjects with skin type I or II (P less than .001) and with skin type III or IV (P much less than .001) who were given NDP. No darkening occurred in the subjects who were given a placebo. Peak changes were seen 1 to 3 weeks after therapy was completed. CONCLUSION--Human skin darkens as a response to a synthetic melanotropin given by subcutaneous injection. Skin tanning appears possible without potentially harmful exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sheftel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eytan
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dorr
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hadley
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Weinrach
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Hruby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010919:Placebos; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D000521:alpha-MSH; C027756:MSH, 4-Nle-7-Phe-alpha-