GH secretagogues
Ghrelin-mimetic GH secretagogues such as Ipamorelin act on a different receptor from GHRH analogues, which is exactly why the two are so often paired in growth-hormone-axis research.
This family sits alongside the GHRH analogues but reaches the same end-point, growth hormone release, by a separate door. Understanding that second door explains why the two classes are usually studied together.
What a secretagogue does
A secretagogue is simply something that prompts secretion. The GH secretagogues in this catalogue are ghrelin mimetics: they imitate ghrelin, a hormone that drives growth-hormone release. Crucially, ghrelin mimetics bind a different receptor from the one GHRH analogues use, even though both ultimately lead to GH release.
Two doors, one room
GHRH analogues and ghrelin-mimetic secretagogues act on separate receptors that both feed into growth-hormone release. That separation is the key to why they combine well.
Ipamorelin's selectivity
Ipamorelin (~711.9 Da) is the in-stock secretagogue in this family, and its appeal in research is selectivity. It stimulates GH release without a notable rise in cortisol or prolactin, making it a comparatively clean tool for isolating GH-axis effects in study models, without the confounding hormonal noise some other secretagogues introduce.
Highly selective
Targets GH release specifically, no notable cortisol or prolactin rise.
A clean tool
Fewer confounding hormonal effects makes it useful for isolating GH-axis research.
Availability: In stock.
Why they're paired with GHRH analogues
Because a secretagogue and a GHRH analogue act on different receptors, combining them produces a larger, cleaner GH pulse in study models than either compound does alone. The two signals are complementary rather than redundant, one prompts the pituitary, the other mimics ghrelin, and together they amplify the release. That is the rationale behind the CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin blend, which pairs a GHRH analogue with this selective secretagogue. For the upstream half of that pairing, see the GHRH analogues page.