Trinity compound research profile
Hexarelin Acetate
Hexarelin (medical name: examorelin) is a lab-made short peptide, closely related to GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, that's designed to trigger growth hormone release...
Research overview
Hexarelin (medical name: examorelin) is a lab-made short peptide, closely related to GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, that's designed to trigger growth hormone release by mimicking the hunger hormone ghrelin (PubChem). What makes it stand out from its relatives is a second, very distinct effect on the heart, discovered because it strongly attaches to a receptor called CD36 that's especially common on heart muscle cells.
Mechanism under study
Like its relatives, Hexarelin knocks on the same door as the hunger hormone ghrelin, telling the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. But Hexarelin also strongly knocks on a separate door on heart cells (CD36), and this second effect is completely independent of growth hormone — it directly changes how hard the heart squeezes, at least in the short term, an effect scientists proved by showing it still happens even in people whose pituitary gland can't respond with growth hormone (Berlanga-Acosta et al. 2017; PMID 10528131).
Human evidence summary
In a small study of 7 healthy men, an IV dose of Hexarelin raised growth hormone about as much as real growth hormone injections, and it also increased how much blood the heart pumped with each beat (ejection fraction went from about 64% to 71%) within 15-30 minutes, without changing blood pressure or heart rate (Bisi et al., J Endocrinol Invest 1999). Separately, giving it through the nose or by mouth to elderly volunteers for 8-15 days did not cause the body to "get used to it" and stop responding (no desensitization), and caused no side effects (Ghigo et al. 1996). No large, long-term human trial has tested whether it provides lasting heart benefits or muscle/body-composition benefits — development of it as an approved drug was discontinued.
Preclinical evidence summary
In rats with high blood pressure and in hamsters with a serious heart-muscle disease, Hexarelin showed protective effects on the heart (Berlanga-Acosta et al. 2017). This heart-protection research is much more developed in animals than in humans, where only short-term safety and hormone effects have been tested.
Source material
Use the linked publications and records to evaluate study design, population, limitations, and relevance.