Secretagogue
Secretagogue — A substance that promotes the secretion of a hormone or other molecule. Growth hormone secretagogues are a major class in peptide research.
What Is a Secretagogue?
A secretagogue is a substance that stimulates secretion from a cell or gland. In peptide research, the term most commonly refers to growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) that stimulate pituitary GH release, including peptides (ipamorelin, GHRP-6, GHRP-2) and non-peptide mimetics (MK-677).
Mechanism
- GHS-R1a: Ghrelin receptor. Gq-coupled. Stimulates GH release from somatotrophs
- Synergy: GHS + GHRH analogs produce synergistic GH pulses exceeding either alone
- Pulsatility: Secretagogues amplify natural GH pulses rather than creating continuous elevation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Secretagogue?
A substance that promotes the secretion of a hormone or other molecule. Growth hormone secretagogues are a major class in peptide research.
Why is Secretagogue important in peptide research?
Secretagogue is a fundamental concept in pharmacology as it relates to peptide science. It directly influences experimental design, compound characterization, and the reliability of research outcomes across biochemistry and molecular biology disciplines.