Alexamorelin is a synthetic heptapeptide growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) mimetic. Alexamorelin binds to and activates the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS‑R1a), stimulating pituitary somatotroph cells to release endogenous growth hormone (GH). Alexamorelin can be used in studies related to GHS‑R1a signaling and GH axis regulation, growth hormone deficiency/catabolic models, and doping control (metabolite/biomarker identification)[1-4].
References:
[1] Thomas A, Walpurgis K, Krug O, et al. Determination of prohibited, small peptides in urine for sports drug testing by means of nano-liquid chromatography/benchtop quadrupole orbitrap tandem-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A. 2012 Oct 12;1259:251-7.
[2] Thomas A, Delahaut P, Krug O, et al. Metabolism of growth hormone releasing peptides. Anal Chem. 2012 Dec 4;84(23):10252-9.
[3] Broglio F, Benso A, Gottero C, et al. Endocrine activities of alexamorelin (Ala-His-d-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-d-Phe-Lys-NH2), a synthetic GH secretagogue, in humans. Eur J Endocrinol. 2000 Sep;143(3):419-25.
[4] Pobee E, Daziani G, Gameli PS, et al. Identification of alexamorelin consumption biomarkers using human hepatocyte incubations and high-resolution mass spectrometry. J Anal Toxicol. 2025 Jul 1;49(6):394-400.