Growth hormone secretagogue

Growth hormone secretagogues or GH secretagogues (GHSs) are a class of drugs which act as secretagogues (i.e., induce the secretion) of growth hormone (GH).^[1] They include agonists of the ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), such as ghrelin (lenomorelin), pralmorelin (GHRP-2), GHRP-6, examorelin (hexarelin), ipamorelin, and ibutamoren (MK-677),^[1][2] and agonists of the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR), such as growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH, somatorelin), CJC-1295,^[3] sermorelin,^[4] and tesamorelin.^[5]

Many of them also induce the secretion of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1),^[6] as well as of other hypothalamic-pituitary hormones such as prolactin and cortisol. The main clinical application of these agents is the treatment of growth hormone deficiency.^[7]

GHRH receptor agonists

Main article: Growth-hormone-releasing hormone receptor § Agonists

Peptide

• GHRH (Somatocrinin, GRF, GHRF)
• CJC-1295 (DAC:GRF)
• Modified GRF (1-29) (CJC without DAC)
• Dumorelin
• Rismorelin
• Sermorelin (Geref, Gerel; GHRH (1-29))
• Somatorelin
• Tesamorelin (Egrifta)

Ghrelin (GHS) receptor agonists

Main article: Growth hormone secretagogue receptor § Agonists

Peptide

• Ghrelin (Lenomorelin, GHRL)
• GHRP-1
• GHRP-2 (Pralmorelin; GHRP Kaken 100; GHRP-2; KP-102, GPA-748, WAY-GPA-748)
• GHRP-3
• GHRP-4
• GHRP-5
• GHRP-6 (SKF-110679)
• Alexamorelin
• Examorelin (hexarelin; EP-23905, MF-6003)
• Ipamorelin (NNC 26-0161)
• Relamorelin (RM-131, BIM-28131, BIM-28163)
• Tabimorelin (NN-703)

Non-peptide

• Adenosine^[8]
• Anamorelin (ONO-7643, RC-1291, ST-1291)
• Capromorelin (CP-424391)
• Ibutamoren (MK-677, MK-0677, L-163191, LUM-201)
• Macimorelin (AEZS-130, JMV 1843)
• SM-130686

Note that while ulimorelin is a ghrelin receptor agonist, it is not a GHS as it is peripherally selective and has little or no effect on GH secretion.^[9] Likewise, Adenosine is capable of eliciting hunger response as a ghrelin agonist but has little to no effect on GH secretion.^[8]

See also

• Hypothalamic–pituitary–somatic axis