Bremelanotide (PT-141)
- synthetic peptide analog of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that is currently being developed as a treatment for sexual dysfunction, specifically erectile dysfunction and sexual arousal disorder (cue a spike in my search traffic, hooray for sexy keywords!)
- α-MSH is a peptide hormone that acts via melanocortin receptors to do interesting things like turn you on and cause your skin to produce more melanin (pigment)
- has been shown to cause a rapid dose-dependent increase in erectile activity in dudes and increase sexual arousal in both the ladies and the gents
- derived from melanotan-II (MT-II), a cyclic lactam analog of α-MSH that is being developed as a sunless tanning agent (it was during studies with this compound as a tanning agent that it's ability to cause erections was discovered, much the same way that Viagra was discovered, leading to the development of bremelanotide)
- stimulates certain neurons in rat brain (specifically: hypothalamus) that are responsible for signaling erections (induces and facilitates erections) and increases activity in brain regions associated with sexual responses
- doesn't appear to affect the vasculature of the genitals (like Viagra and co.) but instead appears to act directly on brain to increase sexual desire
- Molinoff PB, Shadiack AM, Earle D, Diamond LE, Quon CY. PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003 Jun;994:96-102.
6 chemically inspired comments:
Tow Motor
Tow Motor
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Home Owner
Home Owner
Huh. Is this the first actual chemical aphrodisiac discovered?
It is definitely the first synthetic chemical aphrodisiac discovered. As for natural ones, I'm not sure that they've all been studied.
Wikipedia has a good article
here.
I started my own blog about Bremelanotide, mostly to rant and rave once it becomes available to buy - whether good raves or bad rants remains to be seen. :)
But yes, I would have to agree that Bremelantide is the first chemical aphrodisiac to my knowledge, keeping in mind that stuff like viagra makes the plumbing work but doesn't actually cause arousal. Bremelanotide does.
I'm also not aware of any definitive herbal or otherwise natural aphrodisiacs being proved. I'd imagine that would be BIG news if it ever happens.
For anyone who isn't too aware of Bremelanotide, but is interested, check out the last few posts on the "Bremelanotide Bulletin" because they have links to a couple of ABC News & Nightline videos all about it (along with information about the actual tests on people going on now too).
I won't try to provide a link to the site, since it appears that first poster's attempts to spam your comment form didn't work (no active links for the keywords he was attempting to use). LOL
Just Google "Bremelanotide Bulletin" if you're interested. :)
Good post!
Hey Jennifer. Excellent blog idea, I'm sure lots of people are going to be interested in this drug if it makes it to the market. Cool stuff.
As far as the apparent spam is concerned, that is actually my friend making an extremely obscure reference to a factory where we both worked at last summer.
Tell you what, I'll trade you links.
Check it, peeps:
Bremelanotide Bulletin
There's a recent article by Wired that covers the melanotan peptides:
Suntan Drug Greenlighted for Trials
Cheers
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