Melanocortin receptor-3 ligands to treat sexual dysfunction

摘要

Methods for treating sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction or sexual arousal disorder, with a compound having the generic formula X1-X2-(D)Phe-Arg-(D)Trp-X3. A particularly useful compound is HP-228, which has the formula Ac-Nle-Gln-His-(D)Phe-Arg-(D)Trp-Gly-NH2. The invention also provides methods for selecting melanocortin receptor-3 ligands by determining whether a compound modulates the activity of MC-3 as an agonist or antagonist. These methods can be used to screen compound libraries for ligands to treat MC-3-associated conditions. Such conditions include sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and sexual arousal disorder.