Growth Hormone Secretagogue (GHS)

A growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) is a compound that stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH) from the anterior pituitary gland, typically by acting as an agonist at the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) or the GHRH receptor (GHRHR). Unlike exogenous recombinant GH, secretagogues stimulate endogenous GH release and preserve the physiological feedback loop — high GH and IGF-1 suppress further secretagogue-stimulated release, preventing supraphysiological GH exposure. The most studied GH secretagogues are: Ipamorelin (selective GHSR-1a agonist, minimal cortisol/ACTH elevation); GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 (GHSR-1a agonists; more cortisol elevation); Sermorelin and CJC-1295 (GHRHR agonists, acting on the GHRH rather than ghrelin pathway).

Related peptides: Ipamorelin · CJC-1295 · Sermorelin

Part of the Aevitas Peptide Glossary.