GHRP-2 and CJC-1295 stimulate two separate receptors that naturally boost growth hormone (GH) release from the anterior pituitary. CJC-1295 binds to the growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (GHRH) while GHRP-2 binds to the growth hormone secretagogue receptor[1]. By stimulating two different receptors in two different biochemical pathways that have the same final result, these peptides can work together to boost GH release from the anterior pituitary to levels that could not achieved by either peptide alone.
Both GHRP-2 and CJC-1295 have been tested in a variety of animal models and have shown positive effects on muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia, cardiac function, and the immune system[2]–[4]. Both peptides also decrease blood sugar levels and favor lean body mass over fat deposition[5]. In fact, both peptides are known to stimulate fat loss by boosting metabolism[6]. This reduction in adipose (fat) tissue has been linked to improved insulin resistance and improvement in cases of type 2 diabetes.
When combined in research studies, these peptides have cooperative effects in at least some of the pathways noted above.
About The Author
Research by L. Edmiston, M.D. for Peptide Sciences. L. Edmiston holds an M.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a B.S. in molecular biology.
Resources
- [1] M. Ionescu and L. A. Frohman, “Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog,” J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., vol. 91, no. 12, pp. 4792–4797, Dec. 2006. [PubMed]
- [2] D. Yamamoto et al., “GHRP-2, a GHS-R agonist, directly acts on myocytes to attenuate the dexamethasone-induced expressions of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, Atrogin-1 and MuRF1,” Life Sci., vol. 82, no. 9–10, pp. 460–466, Feb. 2008. [PubMed]
- [3] V. Bodart et al., “Identification and characterization of a new growth hormone-releasing peptide receptor in the heart,” Circ. Res., vol. 85, no. 9, pp. 796–802, Oct. 1999. [PubMed]
- [4] D. D. Taub, W. J. Murphy, and D. L. Longo, “Rejuvenation of the aging thymus: growth hormone-mediated and ghrelin-mediated signaling pathways,” Curr. Opin. Pharmacol., vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 408–424, Aug. 2010. [PubMed]
- [5] S. L. Teichman, A. Neale, B. Lawrence, C. Gagnon, J.-P. Castaigne, and L. A. Frohman, “Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults,” J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., vol. 91, no. 3, pp. 799–805, Mar. 2006. [PubMed]
- [6] B. Laferrère, A. B. Hart, and C. Y. Bowers, “Obese subjects respond to the stimulatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 on food intake,” Obes. Silver Spring Md, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 1056–1063, Jun. 2006. [PMC]
