Ipamorelin

Form: Lyophilized powder

🔬 Ipamorelin — Overview

Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide classified as a growth hormone secretagogue (GHS). It selectively stimulates endogenous growth hormone (GH) release by activating the ghrelin (GHS-R1a) receptor in the pituitary gland. Ipamorelin was designed to provide targeted GH stimulation with minimal impact on other pituitary hormones.

📌 Brief Functional Description

• Growth hormone stimulation: Triggers pulsatile GH release from the pituitary gland.
• High selectivity: Exhibits minimal stimulation of cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH, distinguishing it from earlier GH secretagogues.
• Short-acting profile: Produces rapid GH spikes rather than prolonged elevation, mimicking natural physiological secretion patterns.
• Research relevance: Commonly studied in endocrine, metabolic, and body composition research models.

🧪 Chemical & Structural Information

🔢 CAS Number

• 170851-70-4

🧬 Molecular Formula

• C₃₈H₄₉N₉O₅

⚖️ Molecular Weight

• ≈711.9 g/mol (Da)

🧬 Amino Acid Sequence & Structure

• Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide with the sequence:
  Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂
• It contains non-proteinogenic amino acids (e.g., Aib and D-amino acids), which:
  • Increase resistance to enzymatic degradation
  • Enhance receptor selectivity
• The C-terminal amide group further improves stability and bioactivity.

General structural description:

5-amino-acid synthetic peptide with non-standard residues and C-terminal amidation 

🧠 Mechanism & Biological Context

• Ipamorelin binds to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), the same receptor activated by ghrelin.
• Receptor activation leads to calcium influx and GH vesicle release from pituitary somatotrophs.
• Unlike GHRH analogs, ipamorelin does not rely on hypothalamic signaling, allowing direct pituitary stimulation.
• Its selectivity profile makes it useful in studies examining GH dynamics without broad endocrine disruption.

⚠️ Safety & Regulatory Notes

• Research Use Only: Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved as a therapeutic drug.
• Typically supplied as a research peptide for laboratory or investigational use.
• Included on anti-doping prohibited lists due to GH-modulating activity.

🧪 Quick Reference

Notice: For Research Use Only. Not for human or veterinary use.