Sistema Reprodutivo e Distúrbios Sexuais: Pesquisa Atual
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PnPP-19, A Spider Toxin Derivative: New Hope for the Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction?

Silva CN, Almeida FM and de Lima ME

The incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) is increasing every year worldwide, and affects primarily those patients that suffer from vascular diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. There is an increasing number of patients for whom first-line and second-line pharmacotherapy are not indicated. Animal venoms and toxins have been envisaged as pharmacological tools that enable elucidating the mechanisms that lead to erectile function, as well as give hints for drug development to treat ED. Recent studies have demonstrated the promising action of the synthetic peptide PnPP-19, derived from a spider toxin (PnTx2-6), on erectile function. This peptide potentiates erection at 4 and 8 Hz in vivo and ex vivo. It shows no apparent toxicity and presents low immunogenicity to mice. It does not affect sodium channels or rat hearts. Therefore, PnPP-19 may emerge as a new pharmacological tool and shows favorable properties as a bioactive molecule in the treatment of ED.