Central administration of β-MSH reduces body weight in obese male Pomctm1/tm1 mice.

•β-MSH administered to Pomctm1/tm1 mice induces sustained body weight loss.•β-MSH-induced body weight loss associates with visceral adipose tissue loss.•β-MSH, compared with α-MSH and desacetyl-α-MSH, has reduced efficacy activating mouse Mc4r in vitro.•Data support a potential physiological role for β-MSH in regulation of human energy homeostasis.