Patent ID: 7101845

Claim:
A method of modulating β cell function or development, the method comprising: contacting β cell with an effective amount of an agonist of melanocyte concentrating hormone (MCH), wherein the agonist comprises MCH, or a peptide analog of MCH selected from the group consisting of amino acids 5–15 of SEQ ID NO:1; Arg-cyclo(S-S)(Cys-Met-Leu-Gly-Arg-Val-Tyr-Arg-Pro-Cys (SEQ ID NO:2); pro-MCH(131–165) peptide neuropeptide-glutamic acid-isoleucine (NEI)-MCH (SEQ ID NO:6); Ac-dArg(6)-cyclo(S-S)Cys(7)-Met(8)-Leu(9)-Asn(10)-Arg(11)-Val(12)-Tyr(13)-Arg(14)-Pro(15)-Cys(16))-NH(2) (SEQ ID NO:3); and compound S36057 (SEQ ID NO:7).