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PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction
P B Molinoff 1 , A M Shadiack, D Earle, L E Diamond, C Y Quon
Affiliations
PMID: 12851303 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb03167.x
Abstract
PT-141, a synthetic peptide analogue of alpha-MSH, is an agonist at melanocortin receptors including the MC3R and MC4R, which are expressed primarily in the central nervous system. Administration of PT-141 to rats and nonhuman primates results in penile erections. Systemic administration of PT-141 to rats activates neurons in the hypothalamus as shown by an increase in c-Fos immunoreactivity. Neurons in the same region of the central nervous system take up pseudorabies virus injected into the corpus cavernosum of the rat penis. Administration of PT-141 to normal men and to patients with erectile dysfunction resulted in a rapid dose-dependent increase in erectile activity. The results suggest that PT-141 holds promise as a new treatment for sexual dysfunction.
P B Molinoff 1 , A M Shadiack, D Earle, L E Diamond, C Y Quon
Affiliations
PMID: 12851303 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb03167.x
Abstract
PT-141, a synthetic peptide analogue of alpha-MSH, is an agonist at melanocortin receptors including the MC3R and MC4R, which are expressed primarily in the central nervous system. Administration of PT-141 to rats and nonhuman primates results in penile erections. Systemic administration of PT-141 to rats activates neurons in the hypothalamus as shown by an increase in c-Fos immunoreactivity. Neurons in the same region of the central nervous system take up pseudorabies virus injected into the corpus cavernosum of the rat penis. Administration of PT-141 to normal men and to patients with erectile dysfunction resulted in a rapid dose-dependent increase in erectile activity. The results suggest that PT-141 holds promise as a new treatment for sexual dysfunction.