ADENOSINE SIGNALING IN DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF PRIAPISM AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

摘要

We disclose a method of treating priapism in a mammal by administering to the mammal a composition containing an effective amount of an inhibitor of adenosine signaling and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, wherein the inhibitor of adenosine signaling has at least one activity selected from the group consisting of decreasing adenosine levels in the mammal, inhibiting adenosine receptor activity in the mammal, and inhibiting signaling pathways downstream of an adenosine receptor in the mammal. We also disclose a method of treating erectile dysfunction in a mammal by administering to the mammal a composition containing an effective amount of an activator of adenosine signaling and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, wherein the activator of adenosine signaling has at least one activity selected from the group consisting of increasing adenosine levels in the mammal, increasing adenosine receptor activity in the mammal, and increasing activity in signaling pathways downstream of an adenosine receptor in the mammal. In addition, we disclose a method of diagnosing erectile dysfunction in a mammal by administering to the mammal a composition containing an effective amount of an activator of adenosine signaling and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, wherein the activator of adenosine signaling has at least one activity selected from the group consisting of increasing adenosine levels in the mammal, increasing adenosine receptor activity in the mammal, and increasing activity in signaling pathways downstream of an adenosine receptor in the mammal, and observing blood flow in the mammal's penis.