Sermorelin and GHRH(1-29): A Research Overview

Sermorelin matches the first 29 amino acids of growth-hormone-releasing hormone, written GHRH(1-29). Research showed this is the shortest fragment that still has the full biological activity of the whole hormone. Like other GHRH analogs, it works one step above growth hormone, at the pituitary. This is an educational summary for laboratory reference.

The smallest fragment that still works

The finding that the amidated 1-29 fragment keeps full potency goes back to GHRH work in the 1980s, well before 1998. Later structure-activity studies on human GHRH(1-29)NH2 kept refining that picture (Cervini et al., J Med Chem, 1998). [1] A short, fully active fragment is easier to make and is very well characterized.

Pulses versus a steady signal

A theme that keeps coming up with GHRH(1-29) is timing: does giving it continuously or in pulses change how the growth-hormone axis responds? Physiology studies have compared the two (Achermann et al., Clin Endocrinol, 1999). [2] The pulsatility question runs through most secretagogue research.

More than the GH axis

GHRH(1-29) has also been studied for effects on cell proliferation and VEGF-related signaling in research models, so interest extends past growth-hormone release (Stepień et al., Neuropeptides, 2009). [3]

Approval history

Sermorelin was approved by the FDA as Geref and used clinically for growth-hormone deficiency in children until it was discontinued in 2008. That approval covered the pharmaceutical product. It does not cover research-grade material.

Note: Research-grade sermorelin is for laboratory Research Use Only and is not for human or veterinary use.

FAQ

How does sermorelin relate to tesamorelin?

Both are GHRH-based compounds that act above growth hormone. Sermorelin is the GHRH(1-29) fragment itself. Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog with an added modifying group.

References

1. Cervini et al. — hGHRH(1-29)NH2 structure-activity (J Med Chem, 1998)
2. Achermann et al. — continuous vs pulsatile GHRH(1-29) (Clin Endocrinol, 1999)
3. Stepień et al. — GHRH(1-29) proliferation & VEGF signaling (Neuropeptides, 2009)
4. Tesamorelin guide (related GHRH analog)