Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the erectogenic properties of a new cyclic alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue, Melanotan-II, to treat men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction.


METHODS
Ten men with erectile dysfunction of no known organic cause were entered in a double-blind, placebo controlled crossover study in which the erectogenic properties of Melanotan-II and a vehicle placebo were compared using real-time RigiScan monitoring. The presence, duration and rigidity of erections were recorded during a 6-hour period.


RESULTS
In 8 of 10 men treated with Melanotan-II clinically apparent erections developed. Mean duration of tip rigidity greater than 80% was 38.0 minutes with Melanotan-II and 3.0 with placebo (p=0.0045). Transient side effects of nausea, stretching and yawning, and decreased appetite were reported more frequently after injections of Melanotan-II than placebo but none required treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Melanotan-II is a potent initiator of erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction and has manageable side effects at a dose of 0.025 mg./kg.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, USA.
H
H
Wessells
K
K
Fuciarelli
J
J
Hansen
M E
ME
Hadley
V J
VJ
Hruby
R
R
Dorr
N
N
Levine
D000009:Abdominal Muscles; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010919:Placebos; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders; D013997:Time Factors; D015000:Yawning / Q000187:drug effects; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D014677:Pharmaceutical Vehicles; D010919:Placebos; C079282:melanotan-II; D000521:alpha-MSH