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Growth hormone controls physiological processes in the body, including growth and metabolism. A scientist, Reichlin, observed that surgical destruction of the hypothalamus slowed growth in rats, in the 60s. Consequently, a better understanding of the Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide is paramount in the research industry. 

Sermorelin and Ipamorelin are both synthetic peptides that stimulate the release of growth hormone. However, they do this in different ways. This blog post explains the similarities and differences between sermorelin and ipamorelin so that you can choose which is a better option for your research purposes.

The two compounds are discussed here and here.

WHAT IS SERMORELIN?

Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide consisting of the first 29 amino acids (1-29) as the natural hypothalamic Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), that exists as a 44 amino acid peptide. It has the same biological activity as GHRH and shows potential in treating GH deficiency in animal test subjects.

Its empirical formula is C₁₄₉H₂₄₆N₄₄O₄₂S, with a molecular weight of 3357.9 g/mol.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Sermorelin mimics Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). GHRH is released from a location within the brain called the neurosecretory nerve terminal of the arcuate neurons, and it travels to the pituitary gland. When it is administered in the form of sermorelin the first step is skipped, and it flows through the bloodstream. Once there, it binds to GHRH receptors on the pituitary gland and stimulates the production and release of growth hormone.

WHAT IS IPAMORELIN?

Ipamorelin is a new and potent synthetic pentapeptide which has distinct and specific growth hormone (GH)-releasing properties with potency and efficacy similar to GHRP-6. Ipamorelin stimulates GH release through a GHRP-like receptor. Surprisingly, it does not release ACTH or cortisol in levels significantly different from those observed following GHRH stimulation. Making ipamorelin the first GHRH agonist specific for GH release similar to that displayed by GHRH.

Its empirical formula is C₃₈H₄₉N₉O₅, and the molecular weight is 711.9 g/mol.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Ipamorelin acts in a completely different way to stimulate growth hormone release. It mimics ghrelin in the same way sermorelin mimics GHRH. It binds to ghrelin receptors on the pituitary gland with no effect on the rest of the body’s hormones. Ghrelin has profound regulatory effects on metabolism, including increasing or decreasing hunger, inhibiting stored fat breakdown, and most importantly, the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland.

EFFECTS OF SERMORELIN AND IPAMOLERIN

Both peptides have been shown to be relatively safe in clinical studies and display only a few side effects. Sermorelin causes flushing, headaches, nausea, dizziness, and swelling around the injection site. Ipamorelin’s possible side effects are similar to those of sermorelin, with the most common effects being headaches and nausea.

CONCLUSION

The growing interest in GHRPs has evolved over the past years because they are better at increasing plasma GH levels in a physiologically pulsatile manner in animals. So whatever your choice is between Sermorelin or Ipamorelin, Loti Labs assures you of the highest quality USA-made peptides which are tested through HPLC and mass spectrometry. Buy peptides from us today!

References:

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Sermorelin, CID=16129620, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sermorelin (accessed on Dec. 31, 2019).

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Ipamorelin, CID=9831659, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Ipamorelin (accessed on Dec. 31, 2019)

1. Neuroendocrine Control of Growth Hormone Secretion

Eugenio E. Müller, Vittorio Locatelli, and Daniela Cocchi

Physiological Reviews 1999 79:2, 511-607

1. Andrea Giustina, Johannes D. Veldhuis, Pathophysiology of the neuroregulation of Growth Hormone Secretion in Experimental Animals and the Human, Endocrine Reviews, Volume 19, Issue 6, 1 December 1998, Pages 717–797, https://doi.org/10.1210/edrv.19.6.0353

1. Greenwood-Van Meerveld B, Tyler K, Mohammadi E, Pietra C. Efficacy of ipamorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, on gastric dysmotility in a rodent model of postoperative ileus. J Exp Pharmacol. 2012;4:149–155. Published 2012 Oct 19. doi:10.2147/JEP.S35396

1. Walker RF. Sermorelin: a better approach to the management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?. Clin Interv Aging. 2006;1(4):307–308. doi:10.2147/ciia.2006.1.4.307