Ipamorelin is a growth-hormone-releasing peptide studied for prompting GH release cleanly, without the cortisol and appetite rises that older secretagogues produce. That selectivity is what the literature is about.
PEPTIDE · RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · PENTAPEPTIDE GH SECRETAGOGUE / GHSR-1A AGONIST
Mechanisms described in the published preclinical literature.
Binds growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a on anterior pituitary somatotrophs, triggering GH release dose-dependently. It acts at the same receptor as ghrelin but with greater selectivity and without the appetite-stimulating off-target effects.
Unlike GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, it did not significantly elevate ACTH, cortisol or prolactin at doses producing substantial GH release. Dose-escalation studies established this, and it is what marked it as the first pentapeptide secretagogue with that profile.
Stimulates GH release in discrete pulses resembling endogenous secretion rather than a sustained elevation, and that pattern is preserved across repeated administration cycles.
Findings from the published literature, as the studies reported them. Where a finding comes from a human trial, it says so. None is a claim about the material supplied here.
First pentapeptide secretagogue shown to stimulate GH release without elevating cortisol, ACTH or prolactin, setting the selectivity benchmark for the class.
Raun et al. 1998
A human study reported elevated GH during early nocturnal sleep phases, without cortisol disruption.
Frieboes et al. 2004
Dose-dependent bone growth in rat models, 52 versus 42 µm/day at effective doses, indicating GH-mediated downstream effects on skeletal tissue.
Raun et al. 1998
Acts at a complementary receptor to GHRH analogs such as CJC-1295, and combination protocols are studied for dual-pathway effects on GH pulse amplitude.
Raun et al. 1998
A five-residue peptide that binds the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a on pituitary somatotrophs, the same receptor ghrelin acts at, prompting growth hormone release. Three of its five residues are non-standard, which is what gives it resistance to enzymatic breakdown.
Those raise ACTH, cortisol and appetite alongside growth hormone. The 1998 characterisation reported that Ipamorelin did not, at doses producing substantial GH release. It was the first pentapeptide in the class with that profile.
Selective GH release without cortisol, ACTH or prolactin elevation; a pulsatile secretion pattern resembling endogenous physiology; dose-dependent bone growth in rat models; and elevated GH during early sleep in a human study. These are preclinical and small-study findings, not approved clinical outcomes.
They act at different receptors. CJC-1295 is a GHRH analog acting upstream at the GHRH receptor; Ipamorelin acts at GHS-R1a. Combination protocols are studied because the two pathways are complementary rather than competing.
No. It is not an approved drug and has not been evaluated by the FDA for any use. It is supplied strictly as a reference material for in-vitro laboratory research.
Store the sealed vial at −20°C, where it is stable for up to 24 months. Once reconstituted, hold at 2–8°C and protect from light; we do not publish an in-use shelf life for reconstituted material because we have not measured one on this material. Protect from light and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Each entry opens a PubMed search for that title rather than a fixed identifier, so the link resolves to the current record.
For laboratory research use only. Not a drug, supplement or medical product, and not for human or animal use. Every finding referenced on this page comes from published preclinical or laboratory research and is not a claim about this product.
