Sermorelin
What is Sermorelin?
Sermorelin (known chemically as Sermorelin Acetate, GHRH 1-29 Amide, or Geref) is a synthetic 29-amino acid peptide corresponding to the amino-terminal segment of naturally occurring human growth hormone-releasing hormone GHRH 1-44. Representing the shortest fully functional fragment of endogenous GHRH, Sermorelin retains complete receptor-binding affinity and biological activity. Researchers investigate Sermorelin for its ability to selectively stimulate pituitary somatotrophs, promoting physiological, pulsatile growth hormone (GH) secretion and downstream hepatic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) production without bypassing natural endocrine feedback loops.
For laboratory and in vitro evaluation, researchers often choose to buy Sermorelin in high-purity lyophilized reference formats. Reconstituted solutions at Essential Aminos can be securely prepared using sterile laboratory buffers or a specialized reconstitution solution to preserve peptide structure and prevent hydrolytic degradation during automated cellular screening protocols.
Chemical and Molecular Data
| Compound Name | Sermorelin |
|---|---|
| Quantity / Formats | 2MG / 5MG / 10MG (Lyophilized Reference Formats) |
| Synonyms / Alt Names | Sermorelina; Sermoreline; Sermorelinum |
| CAS Number | 86168-78-7 |
| Chemical Formula | C149H246N44O42S |
| Molecular Weight | 3357.9 g/mol |
| IUPAC Name | (3S)-4-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S,3S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S,3R)-1-[[(2S)-4-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[2-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-6-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S,3S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-amino-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-4-methylsulfanyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-3-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-carboxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxohexan-2-yl]amino]-5-carbamimidamido-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-1,4-dioxobutan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxo-3-phenylpropan-2-yl]amino]-3-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-3-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoyl]amino]propanoyl]amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid |
| InChIKey | WGWPRVFKDLAUQJ-MITYVQBRSA-N |
| SMILES Code | CC[C@H](C)[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC2=CC=C(C=C2)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCCN)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H]([C@@H](C)CC)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCSC)C(=O)N[C@@H](CO)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCCNC(=N)N)C(=O)N)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC3=CC=C(C=C3)O)N |
What are the Mechanisms of Action?
The biochemical pathways and cellular targets of Sermorelin include:
- Pituitary GHRH Receptor Agonism: Research demonstrates that Sermorelin binds specifically to growth hormone-releasing hormone receptors (GHRHR) on anterior pituitary somatotrophs. Receptor activation stimulates adenylate cyclase, increasing intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and activating protein kinase A (PKA) pathways to drive GH gene transcription and secretion.
- Preservation of Somatostatin Feedback Loops: Unlike exogenous growth hormone administration, Sermorelin operates upstream through natural hypothalamic-pituitary signaling. When systemic GH or IGF-1 levels reach elevated thresholds, endogenous somatostatin (growth hormone-inhibiting hormone) suppresses further pituitary release, preventing pathological non-pulsatile hormone surges.
- Anabolic Metabolism & IGF-1 Induction: Studies indicate that pulsatile GH secretion triggered by Sermorelin acts on hepatic receptors to stimulate insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) synthesis. Elevated IGF-1 promotes nitrogen retention, enhances amino acid uptake in skeletal muscle tissue, accelerates lipid lipolysis, and supports osteoblast turnover.
What are the Clinical & Preclinical Trials on Sermorelin?
When evaluating research efficacy and published experimental literature for Sermorelin:
- Somatotropic Axis Activation & Growth Hormone Deficiency: Human clinical trials evaluating Sermorelin in pediatric and adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) models demonstrated significant, dose-dependent increases in mean 24-hour GH secretion amplitudes and circulating IGF-1 concentrations, validating its efficacy as both a diagnostic secretagogue and therapeutic restoration agent.
- Body Composition & Metabolic Aging Assays: Controlled research trials in aging models confirmed that regular administration of GHRH(1-29) analogs significantly reduced visceral fat accumulation, improved skin thickness metrics, enhanced lean tissue mass retention, and improved exercise capacity parameters.
- Sleep Architecture & Nocturnal GH Pulses: Clinical physiological studies investigating sleep quality established that bedtime administration of Sermorelin increases Stage IV slow-wave deep sleep duration, reinforcing the natural circadian alignment of nocturnal growth hormone release.
How does Sermorelin compare to other compounds?
To evaluate biological half-life, structural modifications, and receptor pathway selectivity, researchers compare native Sermorelin against modified GHRH analogs and selective ghrelin receptor secretagogues:
| Compound / Variant | Primary Target & Class | Key Structural Differences | Biological Half-Life & Research Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | Pituitary GHRH Receptor Agonist | Native 29-amino acid N-terminal sequence ($text{GHRH}_{1-29}text{-NH}_2$) without amino acid substitutions | Short half-life (~10-12 minutes); closely mimics natural episodic, pulsatile growth hormone dynamics without persistent receptor occupation |
| CJC-1295 (No DAC / Mod GRF 1-29) | Pituitary GHRH Receptor Agonist | Tetra-substituted $text{GHRH}_{1-29}$ analog featuring `D-Ala2`, `Gln8`, `Ala15`, and `Leu27` substitutions | Engineered for DPP-IV enzymatic cleavage resistance; extends half-life to ~30 minutes for greater pulse magnitude per dose |
| Tesamorelin | Pituitary GHRH Receptor Agonist | Full 44-amino acid GHRH sequence modified with a trans-3-hexenoic acid N-terminal group | Extended half-life (~26-38 minutes); specifically researched for potent visceral adipose tissue lipolysis and trunk fat reduction |
| Ipamorelin | GHS-R1a (Ghrelin Receptor Agonist) | Synthetic pentapeptide secretagogue operating independently of GHRH receptor pathways | Targets a separate pituitary pathway to amplify growth hormone pulses without elevating cortisol, prolactin, or aldosterone levels |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the molecular structure and classification of Sermorelin?
Sermorelin is a synthetic 29-amino acid peptide (GHRH 1-29 amide) corresponding to the N-terminal functional domain of naturally occurring human growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH 1-44). It is the shortest peptide fragment known to possess full biological GHRH receptor activity.
2. How does Sermorelin preserve natural pituitary feedback mechanisms?
Because Sermorelin acts directly on pituitary GHRH receptors, its ability to induce growth hormone release remains under the control of hypothalamic somatostatin (GHIH). If serum GH or IGF-1 concentrations become elevated, somatostatin is released to inhibit further GH secretion, preventing excessive or non-physiologic hormone surges.
3. How does Sermorelin differ structurally and functionally from CJC-1295 (No DAC)?
Sermorelin utilizes the native human GHRH(1-29) amino acid sequence and has a biological half-life of approximately 10 to 12 minutes. CJC-1295 (No DAC) contains four amino acid substitutions (D-Ala2, Gln8, Ala15, Leu27) that protect it from rapid cleavage by dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), extending its biological half-life to roughly 30 minutes.
4. Why is Sermorelin’s rapid clearance profile advantageous in pulsatile GH research?
Sermorelin’s relatively short half-life allows it to trigger distinct, episodic growth hormone pulses that closely mirror endogenous circadian rhythms. This rapid signaling and clearance prevent continuous, chronic receptor overstimulation, protecting pituitary somatotrophs from receptor desensitization.
5. What are the proper reconstitution and storage protocols for Sermorelin?
Lyophilized Sermorelin powder should be stored sealed at -20°C for long-term stability. For research use, the peptide should be reconstituted using a sterile buffer or dedicated laboratory reconstitution solution. Once reconstituted, liquid solutions must be kept refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C and protected from light to maintain structural peptide integrity.
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Certificate of Analysis
Certificates of analysis are provided for laboratory research reference. Expand a batch below to view the PDF. Only the newest three COAs for this product are listed here.
Sermorelin 10mg 10MG - Lot / Batch: BX-P-A5W3
- Mass Identification: Sermorelin
- Average Net Peptide: 13.90 mg
- Average Purity: 99.15%
- Endotoxin Threshold Results: Pass
- Lot#: BX-P-A5W3
- Search Code: Esse2608170427
Search all COAs by batch number (includes older batches not shown above).
