PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction

  • Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003 Jun;994:96-102. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2003.tb03167.x.
P B Molinoff  1 ,  A M Shadiack ,  D Earle ,  L E Diamond ,  C Y Quon
Affiliations
  • 1. Palatin Technologies, Inc, Cranbury, New Jersey 08512, USA.
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.

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