Patent ID: 8501772

Claim:
A method of agonizing growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) in a mammal, comprising administering, to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a 3,8-diaminotetrahydroquinoline derivative represented by formula (Ia) or a salt thereof: wherein X is CH 2 , C═O, CH—OR, CH—SR, or CH—NRR′; m is an integer of 1 or 2; Ar is a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a 5-membered or 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic group having one or two elements selected from S, N, and O, or a condensed aromatic heterocyclic group formed between a benzene ring and a 5-membered or 6-membered heterocyclic ring having one or two elements selected from S, N, and O wherein the phenyl, naphthyl, or aromatic heterocyclic groups may be substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms, a C1 to C6 alkyl group, or a C1 to C6 alkoxy group; R 1 and R 2 , which may be identical to or different from each other, each represent a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R 3 represents a C1 to C6 alkyl group, a C1 to C6 alkyl group substituted by a methylthio or benzyloxy group, a phenyl group, a phenyl-C 1-4 alkyl group, or an indolyl-C 1-4 alkyl group, wherein the phenyl group or the indolyl group optionally being substituted by a C1 to C6 alkyl group, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or a C1 to C6 alkoxy group; n is an integer of 0 or 1; R 4 and R 5 , which may be identical to or different from each other, each represent a hydrogen atom, or a C1 to C6 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group optionally being substituted by a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1 to C6 alkoxy group, a phenyl group, a benzyloxy group, or a hydroxyphenyl group, or R 4 or R 5 , and R 6 or R 7 may be linked to the adjacent nitrogen atom to form a pyrrolidine ring, a piperidine ring, a pyrrolidine ring substituted by a hydroxyl group, or a piperidine ring substituted by a hydroxyl group; R 6 and R 7 , which may be identical to or different from each other, each represent a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C6 alkyl group; and R and R′, which may be identical to or different from each other, each represent a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C6 linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group.