Ipamorelin - Frequently Asked Questions
Part of the full Ipamorelin guide - a selective growth-hormone secretagogue reference compound, identity-verified with a COA on every vial.
Straight answers
Ipamorelin, answered
What receptor does ipamorelin target in the studied models?
The entry identifies ipamorelin as a selective agonist of GHS-R1a, the growth-hormone-secretagogue receptor 1a (the ghrelin receptor), expressed on anterior-pituitary somatotrophs in the model systems studied (keyFact sourceHint: Raun et al. 1998).
What signal-transduction pathway is described downstream of receptor binding?
Per the entry, agonist binding couples GHS-R1a to Gq/11, which activates phospholipase C and raises inositol-trisphosphate and intracellular calcium; in somatotroph models that calcium rise triggers exocytosis of stored growth-hormone vesicles.
What makes ipamorelin described as 'selective'?
In the referenced preclinical models it is reported to release growth hormone without the proportional rise in ACTH, cortisol, or prolactin seen with earlier secretagogues. The data attributes this selectivity to the two non-coded residues, aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and D-2-naphthylalanine (D-2-Nal).
What is the amino-acid sequence and molecular size?
The sequence is Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, a C-terminally amidated pentapeptide. Its molecular formula is C38H49N9O5 and its molecular weight is 711.86 g/mol.
What is the CAS number for ipamorelin?
The entry lists CAS Registry Number 170851-70-4 as the unique chemical identifier for ipamorelin.
What does the primary cited literature investigate?
The single citation is Raun, K., et al. (1998), 'Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue,' European Journal of Endocrinology (DOI 10.1530/eje.0.1390552; PMID 9849822). It is the source the entry assigns to the receptor identity (GHS-R1a) and the selectivity profile.
What research areas are associated with this peptide?
Three are listed: GHS-R1a receptor-binding and selectivity assays; somatotroph calcium-signaling and GH-secretion models; and comparative secretagogue pharmacology focused on cortisol/prolactin selectivity. All are model-system and receptor-signaling in scope.
Does the entry provide a measured half-life or stability figure?
No. The entry contains no ipamorelin-specific half-life, clearance, or quantitative stability data. Any PK or degradation discussion is framed as general peptide-class principle, with structure-based notes (C-terminal amidation; non-coded and D-residues) drawn only from the entry's sequence.
How is concentration calculated when preparing a laboratory stock?
Concentration equals peptide mass divided by diluent volume. Using the entry's molecular weight of 711.86 g/mol, molar concentration is the mass-per-volume figure divided by 711.86 g/mol (for illustration, a 1 mg/mL solution is about 1.405 mmol/L). This is benchtop stock arithmetic, not a dosing quantity.
What are the general storage conventions for this kind of research peptide?
By general peptide-class convention, the lyophilized powder is kept cold, dry, and light-protected, and reconstituted solution is refrigerated for short-term benchtop use or frozen in aliquots for longer holds while minimizing freeze-thaw cycles. The entry gives no peptide-specific shelf life, so no expiry interval is asserted.
Is any human, therapeutic, or outcome claim made for ipamorelin here?
No. The entry states explicitly that reported activity is mechanistic and model-system based, with no human dosing, therapeutic, or outcome claim. All information is strictly in-vitro / receptor-signaling / laboratory framing for research-use-only reference.
The fine print: products are sold for laboratory research use only and are not for human or animal consumption. Bodily introduction into humans or animals is strictly prohibited by law. Ipamorelin is not a drug and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.