Growth-Hormone Releasing Peptide

GHRP-2

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Overview

Used as a GH-stimulation diagnostic in some regions; studied as a secretagogue; not an FDA-approved therapy.

How it works

GHRP-2 (pralmorelin) is a potent growth-hormone-releasing peptide that, like the others in its family, activates the ghrelin receptor to drive GH release.

It produces strong, reliable GH pulses with relatively modest appetite, cortisol, and prolactin effects. That reliability is why, in some countries (notably Japan), it's actually used as an approved diagnostic agent to test how well a patient's pituitary can secrete growth hormone.

Outside that diagnostic role it is not an FDA-approved therapy; as a treatment it remains a research compound.

Mechanism · Detailed Analysis

Molecular targetA potent GHS-R1a agonist (pralmorelin).

Signaling & downstream effectsProduces robust GH pulses with modest appetite, cortisol, and prolactin effects.

PharmacokineticsApproved as a GH-stimulation diagnostic agent in Japan.

CaveatsNot an FDA-approved therapy.

Published EvidenceFree · cited live from PubMed

Human Data 156

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides

Ghigo E et al. · European journal of endocrinology · 1997 — PMID 9186261 ↗

Review

The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues

Sigalos JT et al. · Sexual medicine reviews · 2018 — PMID 28400207 ↗

Review

Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN

Drugs in R&D · 2004 — PMID 15230633 ↗

Review

Adult growth hormone deficiency: current concepts

Fukuda I et al. · Neurologia medico-chirurgica · 2014 — PMID 25070016 ↗

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men

Laferrère B et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2005 — PMID 15699539 ↗

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides and their analogs

Camanni F et al. · Frontiers in neuroendocrinology · 1998 — PMID 9465289 ↗

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

Argente J et al. · Hormone research · 1996 — PMID 8950613 ↗

Comparative Study

The arginine and GHRP-2 tests as alternatives to the insulin tolerance test for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency in Japanese patients: a comparison

Kinoshita Y et al. · Endocrine journal · 2013 — PMID 23079545 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) does not act via the human growth hormone-releasing factor receptor in GC cells

Chen C et al. · Endocrine · 1998 — PMID 9798733 ↗

Comparative Study

GH releasing peptides--structure and kinetics

Bowers CY · The Journal of pediatric endocrinology · 1993 — PMID 8374685 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin

Semenistaya E et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2015 — PMID 25869809 ↗

Review

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Vodnik M et al. · Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme · 2016 — PMID 26551992 ↗

See all 156 on PubMed →

Animal 79

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Ghrelin receptor agonist GHRP-2 prevents arthritis-induced increase in E3 ubiquitin-ligating enzymes MuRF1 and MAFbx gene expression in skeletal muscle

Granado M et al. · American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2005 — PMID 16030067 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on membrane Ca2+ permeability in cultured ovine somatotrophs

Chen C et al. · Journal of neuroendocrinology · 1995 — PMID 7606243 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Is GHRH receptor essential to GHRP-2-induced GH secretion in primary cultured rat pituitary cells?

Roh SG et al. · Endocrinology · 2002 — PMID 11956179 ↗

Comparative Study

The effects of GH-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) and GHRP-2 on intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels and GH secretion in ovine and rat somatotrophs

Wu D et al. · The Journal of endocrinology · 1996 — PMID 8699133 ↗

Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of GHRP-2 and Cysteamine Administration on Growth Performance, Somatotropic Axis Hormone and Muscle Protein Deposition in Yaks (Bos grunniens) with Growth Retardation

Hu R et al. · PloS one · 2016 — PMID 26894743 ↗

Study

Effects of the administration of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) orally by gavage and in feed on growth hormone release in swine

Phung LT et al. · Domestic animal endocrinology · 2001 — PMID 11164330 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anti-inflammatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in arthritic rats

Granado M et al. · American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2005 — PMID 15507538 ↗

In Vitro 28

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

Argente J et al. · Hormone research · 1996 — PMID 8950613 ↗

Review

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Vodnik M et al. · Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme · 2016 — PMID 26551992 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Analysis of new growth promoting black market products

Krug O et al. · Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society · 2018 — PMID 29864719 ↗

Study

In vitro models for metabolic studies of small peptide hormones in sport drug testing

Esposito S et al. · Journal of peptide science : an official publication of the European Peptide Society · 2015 — PMID 25469748 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Effect of GHRH and GHRP-2 treatment in vitro on GH secretion and levels of GH, pituitary transcription factor-1, GHRH-receptor, GH-secretagogue-receptor and somatostatin receptor mRNAs in ovine pituitary cells

Yan M et al. · European journal of endocrinology · 2004 — PMID 14763922 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Differential regulation of GHRH-receptor and GHS-receptor expression by long-term in vitro treatment of ovine pituitary cells with GHRP-2 and GHRH

Roh SG et al. · Endocrine · 2006 — PMID 17185792 ↗

Historical Article

History to the discovery of ghrelin

Bowers CY · Methods in enzymology · 2012 — PMID 22975043 ↗

Study

ACTH releasing activity of KP-102 (GHRP-2) in rats is mediated mainly by release of CRF

Studies are surfaced live from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed). biohackr indexes and links the published record; it does not host or alter source articles.

Published EvidenceLoading cited studies from PubMed…

Human Data ···

Searching the published record…

Animal ···

Searching the published record…

In Vitro ···

Searching the published record…

Educational aggregation of public literature. Not medical advice and not a recommendation to use any compound. Many compounds here are not approved for human use. Consult a licensed clinician.

Published EvidenceFree · cited live from PubMed

Human Data 156

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides

Ghigo E et al. · European journal of endocrinology · 1997 — PMID 9186261 ↗

Review

The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues

Sigalos JT et al. · Sexual medicine reviews · 2018 — PMID 28400207 ↗

Review

Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN

Drugs in R&D · 2004 — PMID 15230633 ↗

Review

Adult growth hormone deficiency: current concepts

Fukuda I et al. · Neurologia medico-chirurgica · 2014 — PMID 25070016 ↗

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men

Laferrère B et al. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2005 — PMID 15699539 ↗

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides and their analogs

Camanni F et al. · Frontiers in neuroendocrinology · 1998 — PMID 9465289 ↗

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

Argente J et al. · Hormone research · 1996 — PMID 8950613 ↗

Comparative Study

The arginine and GHRP-2 tests as alternatives to the insulin tolerance test for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency in Japanese patients: a comparison

Kinoshita Y et al. · Endocrine journal · 2013 — PMID 23079545 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) does not act via the human growth hormone-releasing factor receptor in GC cells

Chen C et al. · Endocrine · 1998 — PMID 9798733 ↗

Comparative Study

GH releasing peptides--structure and kinetics

Bowers CY · The Journal of pediatric endocrinology · 1993 — PMID 8374685 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin

Semenistaya E et al. · Drug testing and analysis · 2015 — PMID 25869809 ↗

Review

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Vodnik M et al. · Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme · 2016 — PMID 26551992 ↗

See all 156 on PubMed →

Animal 79

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Ghrelin receptor agonist GHRP-2 prevents arthritis-induced increase in E3 ubiquitin-ligating enzymes MuRF1 and MAFbx gene expression in skeletal muscle

Granado M et al. · American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2005 — PMID 16030067 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on membrane Ca2+ permeability in cultured ovine somatotrophs

Chen C et al. · Journal of neuroendocrinology · 1995 — PMID 7606243 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Is GHRH receptor essential to GHRP-2-induced GH secretion in primary cultured rat pituitary cells?

Roh SG et al. · Endocrinology · 2002 — PMID 11956179 ↗

Comparative Study

The effects of GH-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) and GHRP-2 on intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels and GH secretion in ovine and rat somatotrophs

Wu D et al. · The Journal of endocrinology · 1996 — PMID 8699133 ↗

Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of GHRP-2 and Cysteamine Administration on Growth Performance, Somatotropic Axis Hormone and Muscle Protein Deposition in Yaks (Bos grunniens) with Growth Retardation

Hu R et al. · PloS one · 2016 — PMID 26894743 ↗

Study

Effects of the administration of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) orally by gavage and in feed on growth hormone release in swine

Phung LT et al. · Domestic animal endocrinology · 2001 — PMID 11164330 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anti-inflammatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in arthritic rats

Granado M et al. · American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2005 — PMID 15507538 ↗

In Vitro 28

Review

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

Argente J et al. · Hormone research · 1996 — PMID 8950613 ↗

Review

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Vodnik M et al. · Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme · 2016 — PMID 26551992 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Analysis of new growth promoting black market products

Krug O et al. · Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society · 2018 — PMID 29864719 ↗

Study

In vitro models for metabolic studies of small peptide hormones in sport drug testing

Esposito S et al. · Journal of peptide science : an official publication of the European Peptide Society · 2015 — PMID 25469748 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Effect of GHRH and GHRP-2 treatment in vitro on GH secretion and levels of GH, pituitary transcription factor-1, GHRH-receptor, GH-secretagogue-receptor and somatostatin receptor mRNAs in ovine pituitary cells

Yan M et al. · European journal of endocrinology · 2004 — PMID 14763922 ↗

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Differential regulation of GHRH-receptor and GHS-receptor expression by long-term in vitro treatment of ovine pituitary cells with GHRP-2 and GHRH

Roh SG et al. · Endocrine · 2006 — PMID 17185792 ↗

Historical Article

History to the discovery of ghrelin

Bowers CY · Methods in enzymology · 2012 — PMID 22975043 ↗

Study

ACTH releasing activity of KP-102 (GHRP-2) in rats is mediated mainly by release of CRF

Studies are surfaced live from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed). biohackr indexes and links the published record; it does not host or alter source articles.

GHRP-2

Growth hormone-releasing peptides

The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues

Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN

Adult growth hormone deficiency: current concepts

Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men

Growth hormone-releasing peptides and their analogs

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

The arginine and GHRP-2 tests as alternatives to the insulin tolerance test for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency in Japanese patients: a comparison

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) does not act via the human growth hormone-releasing factor receptor in GC cells

GH releasing peptides--structure and kinetics

Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Ghrelin receptor agonist GHRP-2 prevents arthritis-induced increase in E3 ubiquitin-ligating enzymes MuRF1 and MAFbx gene expression in skeletal muscle

Effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on membrane Ca2+ permeability in cultured ovine somatotrophs

Is GHRH receptor essential to GHRP-2-induced GH secretion in primary cultured rat pituitary cells?

The effects of GH-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) and GHRP-2 on intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels and GH secretion in ovine and rat somatotrophs

Effects of GHRP-2 and Cysteamine Administration on Growth Performance, Somatotropic Axis Hormone and Muscle Protein Deposition in Yaks (Bos grunniens) with Growth Retardation

Effects of the administration of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) orally by gavage and in feed on growth hormone release in swine

Anti-inflammatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in arthritic rats

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Analysis of new growth promoting black market products

In vitro models for metabolic studies of small peptide hormones in sport drug testing

Effect of GHRH and GHRP-2 treatment in vitro on GH secretion and levels of GH, pituitary transcription factor-1, GHRH-receptor, GH-secretagogue-receptor and somatostatin receptor mRNAs in ovine pituitary cells

Differential regulation of GHRH-receptor and GHS-receptor expression by long-term in vitro treatment of ovine pituitary cells with GHRP-2 and GHRH

History to the discovery of ghrelin

ACTH releasing activity of KP-102 (GHRP-2) in rats is mediated mainly by release of CRF

Growth hormone-releasing peptides

The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues

Pralmorelin: GHRP 2, GPA 748, growth hormone-releasing peptide 2, KP-102 D, KP-102 LN, KP-102D, KP-102LN

Adult growth hormone deficiency: current concepts

Growth hormone releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2), like ghrelin, increases food intake in healthy men

Growth hormone-releasing peptides and their analogs

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

The arginine and GHRP-2 tests as alternatives to the insulin tolerance test for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency in Japanese patients: a comparison

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) does not act via the human growth hormone-releasing factor receptor in GC cells

GH releasing peptides--structure and kinetics

Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides metabolites in human urine after nasal administration of GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, Hexarelin, and Ipamorelin

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Ghrelin receptor agonist GHRP-2 prevents arthritis-induced increase in E3 ubiquitin-ligating enzymes MuRF1 and MAFbx gene expression in skeletal muscle

Effects of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on membrane Ca2+ permeability in cultured ovine somatotrophs

Is GHRH receptor essential to GHRP-2-induced GH secretion in primary cultured rat pituitary cells?

The effects of GH-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) and GHRP-2 on intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels and GH secretion in ovine and rat somatotrophs

Effects of GHRP-2 and Cysteamine Administration on Growth Performance, Somatotropic Axis Hormone and Muscle Protein Deposition in Yaks (Bos grunniens) with Growth Retardation

Effects of the administration of growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) orally by gavage and in feed on growth hormone release in swine

Anti-inflammatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in arthritic rats

Growth hormone-releasing peptides: clinical and basic aspects

Ghrelin Receptor Ligands Reaching Clinical Trials: From Peptides to Peptidomimetics; from Agonists to Antagonists

Analysis of new growth promoting black market products

In vitro models for metabolic studies of small peptide hormones in sport drug testing

Effect of GHRH and GHRP-2 treatment in vitro on GH secretion and levels of GH, pituitary transcription factor-1, GHRH-receptor, GH-secretagogue-receptor and somatostatin receptor mRNAs in ovine pituitary cells

Differential regulation of GHRH-receptor and GHS-receptor expression by long-term in vitro treatment of ovine pituitary cells with GHRP-2 and GHRH

History to the discovery of ghrelin

ACTH releasing activity of KP-102 (GHRP-2) in rats is mediated mainly by release of CRF

Growth hormone releasing peptides: a comparison of the growth hormone releasing activities of GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 in rat primary pituitary cells

Ghrelin receptor agonist, GHRP-2, attenuates burn injury-induced MuRF-1 and MAFbx expression and muscle proteolysis in rats

Ghrelin receptor agonist, GHRP-2, produces antinociceptive effects at the supraspinal level via the opioid receptor in mice

Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 stimulates secretion and synthesis of adrenocorticotropic hormone in mouse pituitary

Metabolism of growth hormone releasing peptides

The effects of GH-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) and GHRP-2 on intracellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels and GH secretion in ovine and rat somatotrophs

Anti-inflammatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) in arthritic rats

Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue