Overview
Ipamorelin is a synthetic pentapeptide (Aib-His-D-2-Nal-D-Phe-Lys-NH₂) and a selective agonist of the ghrelin / growth-hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a).
Mechanism
Selective GHS-R1a activation drives pulsatile growth-hormone release with minimal effect on cortisol, prolactin, or aldosterone in published animal and translational studies — which is why it is so frequently used as a comparison compound to other secretagogues.
Notes for the lab
Lyophilized ipamorelin is reconstituted with bacteriostatic water and refrigerated. Plasma half-life is short (~2 hours in animal data), which informs sampling intervals in PK and pulsatility studies.