Hexarelin

Hexarelin is a synthetic hexapeptide (His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2) designed as a potent agonist of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR-1a), also known as the ghrelin receptor. It belongs to the same GHRP (growth hormone-releasing peptide) family as GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 but is distinguished by a substantially higher binding affinity for GHSR-1a than either of its family members, making it one of the most potent GHS-R agonists among the research-use hexapeptides. In rodent models, Hexarelin produces robust and dose-dependent growth hormone release, making it a frequently used comparator compound in GH secretagogue research where researchers need a reliable maximal-stimulation benchmark.

The GHSR-1a axis is the primary mechanism driving Hexarelin's GH-releasing effects: receptor activation in the pituitary triggers GH secretory burst amplitude via Gq/phospholipase C signaling, while simultaneous activation of hypothalamic GHSR-1a stimulates growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) release and inhibits somatostatin — the dual central and pituitary effect producing a synergistic pulse that researchers use to characterize GH axis responsiveness in various disease and aging models. Like other GHRPs, Hexarelin also stimulates cortisol and ACTH release, which distinguishes GHSR agonists from pure GHRH analogs; this stress-axis co-activation is typically noted as a study-design variable in animal protocols.

A secondary and mechanistically distinct research focus for Hexarelin involves cardiac biology via CD36 binding. The CD36 scavenger receptor, expressed on cardiomyocytes and monocytes, has been identified as a GHS-independent binding target for Hexarelin. In isolated perfused heart models and cardiomyocyte culture, Hexarelin has been shown to improve post-ischemia cardiac function, reduce infarct size, and attenuate apoptotic signaling in a GH-independent manner — a finding that has generated interest in GHS peptides as cardioprotective tools separate from their endocrine effects. CD36-mediated signaling involves ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC pathways. Peptides.SO tracks 53 Hexarelin listings from 35 distinct suppliers, all currently in stock, with per-mg pricing ranging from $6.00 to $350.00 and a median of $29.50/mg (interquartile range $14.30 – $47.00/mg).

Potential Research Applications: GHSR-1a activation and growth hormone secretagogue signaling studies Dose-response characterization of GH pulse amplitude in rodent models Comparison with GHRP-2, GHRP-6, and Ipamorelin in GHSR binding affinity and GH release studies HPA axis co-activation research (cortisol and ACTH co-release with GH) Cardioprotection via GH-independent CD36 receptor signaling in ischemia models Post-ischemic cardiac function and infarct-size attenuation models ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC pathway activation in cardiomyocyte research GH axis responsiveness characterization in aging and disease animal models Somatostatin inhibition and GHRH potentiation in combined pituitary-hypothalamic models

Marketplace Snapshot (September 2026, Peptides.SO listings data): Tracked listings: 53 from 35 distinct suppliers (53 in stock, all mg-denominated) Median price per mg: $29.50 (interquartile range $14.30 – $47.00/mg) Lowest verified per-mg price: $6.00/mg — Pure Peptides UK ($12 for 2 mg) Second lowest: $7.00/mg — Peptides Source ($70 for 10 mg) Third lowest: $7.60/mg — Ruo Bio ($38 for 5 mg) Note: Hexarelin is typically available in smaller vial sizes (2–10 mg) compared with high-volume peptides, which explains the higher median price per milligram relative to BPC-157 or GHRP-6.

Frequently Asked Questions: Q: How does Hexarelin differ from GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 in terms of GHSR-1a affinity and GH release? A: Hexarelin has a higher binding affinity for GHSR-1a than either GHRP-2 or GHRP-6, producing greater maximal GH pulse amplitude per molar dose in head-to-head rodent comparisons. GHRP-6 is notable for also stimulating appetite more strongly through central ghrelin receptor activation; GHRP-2 produces less appetite stimulation than GHRP-6; Hexarelin produces the least appetite effect of the three while delivering the highest GH output, which is relevant for study designs where feeding-behavior confounds need to be minimized.

Q: What is the significance of Hexarelin's GH-independent cardioprotective mechanism via CD36? A: CD36 is a multifunctional scavenger receptor expressed on cardiomyocytes, monocytes, and platelets. Its identification as a binding target for Hexarelin — independent of GHSR-1a — established a GH-independent mechanism of cardioprotection that has been validated in isolated perfused rat heart models. This is significant because it separates Hexarelin's cardiac effects from growth hormone-mediated anabolism, providing researchers a tool for mechanistic dissection of GHS-R-dependent versus CD36-dependent cardiac signaling.

Q: How many suppliers offer Hexarelin, and what is a typical research purchase price? A: Peptides.SO tracks 53 Hexarelin listings from 35 suppliers. The median per-mg price is $29.50 with the market's middle half ranging from $14.30 to $47.00/mg. The most price-competitive options tend to be UK and European suppliers (Pure Peptides UK at $6/mg) or high-volume domestic suppliers.

Q: What documentation should researchers request when purchasing Hexarelin? A: A batch-specific COA confirming HPLC purity ≥98% and mass-spectrometry identity confirming the molecular weight of 887.05 Da is the minimum standard. For GHSR-binding assays, researchers should additionally confirm there is no detectable contamination with structurally related GHRPs, as these can confound receptor selectivity data.

Q: Is Hexarelin appropriate for comparing with peptide blends containing multiple GHRPs? A: Yes — Hexarelin's well-characterized GHSR affinity makes it a useful single-agent control when studying blends like CJC-1295/Ipamorelin or Modified GRF/GHRP-6. Its strong GH-stimulating signal provides a high-ceiling benchmark for assessing how different receptor ratios and release kinetics in blends alter the GH pulse shape.

Q: Is Hexarelin approved for human use? A: No. Hexarelin is an unapproved research chemical with no FDA or EMA clinical approval. All material on this platform is sold exclusively for in vitro and preclinical laboratory use and is not for human or veterinary consumption.

Related Research on Peptides.SO: peptides.so/peptide/ghrp-2-ipamorelin-blend peptides.so/peptide/cjc-1295-no-dac-ipamorelin-blend peptides.so/peptide/sermorelin peptides.so/learn/peptide-purity-testing-hplc-mass-spec peptides.so/tools/calculator peptides.so/learn/peptide-storage-best-practices

Cited Research: Bowers CY. Growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 mechanisms of action. Endocrine. 2001;14(1):31-42. PubMed PMID: 11322500. Muccioli G, Broglio F, Valetto MR, et al. Growth hormone-releasing peptides and the cardiovascular system. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2000;61(1):27-31. PubMed PMID: 10807259. Pettersson I, Muccioli G, Granata R, et al. Natural (des-acyl ghrelin) and synthetic (hexarelin) peptides activate the CD36 pathway in vivo in rats, reducing myocardial ischemia/reperfusion damage. J Endocrinol. 2002;172(3):411-418. PubMed PMID: 11874700.

For laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.