Growth Hormone Peptides | GH Axis Research Compounds
The GH–IGF-1 axis research toolkit spans three distinct intervention layers: direct GH replacement, pituitary GH stimulation via two independent receptor pathways, and downstream IGF-1 receptor activation. Choosing the right compound means choosing which layer of the axis to target — and which confounds to accept or avoid.
QSC supplies nine growth hormone axis research tools covering direct GH delivery, GHRH-receptor stimulation, ghrelin-receptor stimulation, and downstream IGF-1R activation:
Understanding which layer of the GH axis your research question addresses determines which compound — or combination — is appropriate:
Layer 1 — Direct GH Delivery
Recombinant HGH — bypasses the pituitary entirely. Provides dose-precise, non-pulsatile GH elevation. Use when pituitary function is not intact (hypophysectomised models), when precise dose control is the priority, or when pulsatility is not the experimental variable.
Two independent receptor pathways: GHRH receptor (sermorelin, CJC-1295 No DAC) and GHSR-1a / ghrelin receptor (ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6). Secretagogues preserve physiological GH pulsatility. Combined CJC-1295 + ipamorelin activates both pathways simultaneously — the standard approach for maximum pulsatile GH amplitude with minimal HPA confounds.
Layer 3 — IGF-1 Receptor Activation
IGF-1 LR3 bypasses the GH axis entirely, activating IGF-1R directly. 1000× reduced IGFBP binding produces 20–30hr half-life — practical for once-daily chronic studies and serum-containing cell culture. Use when the research question is at the IGF-1R level, not at GHR or pituitary.
What is the difference between HGH and GH secretagogues for research?
Recombinant HGH delivers exogenous growth hormone directly, bypassing the pituitary and producing non-pulsatile pharmacokinetics. GH secretagogues (sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6) stimulate the pituitary’s own GH release, preserving the physiological pulsatile output pattern. The choice between them is a fundamental research design decision: HGH for dose-precise, pulsatility-independent GH delivery; secretagogues when the intact GH axis and pulsatility are part of the experimental model.
What is the best GH secretagogue combination for research?
The most common research combination is CJC-1295 No DAC + ipamorelin, which activates both independent GH-releasing pathways simultaneously — the GHRH receptor (CJC-1295) and the ghrelin receptor GHSR-1a (ipamorelin). Combined stimulation produces synergistically greater GH pulse amplitude than either alone, closely replicating the physiological dual trigger for endogenous GH pulses. Ipamorelin is preferred over GHRP-2 or GHRP-6 for the combination because its selectivity minimises cortisol and prolactin confounds.
What is the difference between IGF-1 LR3 and direct HGH?
HGH acts at the GH receptor (GHR) in the liver and other tissues to stimulate IGF-1 production and direct anabolic signalling. IGF-1 LR3 acts directly at the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), bypassing GH receptor activation and hepatic IGF-1 production entirely. Use HGH when studying the full GH receptor → IGF-1 production axis; use IGF-1 LR3 when studying IGF-1R biology directly, bypassing the upstream axis.
Does QSC ship growth hormone peptides domestically?
Yes. All GH axis compounds — HGH, sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, IGF-1 LR3, HGH Fragment, and AOD-9604 — ship from QSC domestic warehouses in the USA, EU, UK, Canada, and Australia.
QSC quality standard — every compound, every batch
≥99% Purity
HPLC verified — full chromatogram in COA
MS Identity
Molecular weight confirmed every batch
Janoshik COA
Independent third-party — publicly verifiable
Direct Manufacture
Fmoc SPPS in-house — Qingdao facility
5-Region Shipping
Domestic: USA · EU · UK · Canada · Australia
Research Use Only: All products sold on qscpeptide.com are intended strictly for laboratory research purposes only. They are not approved for human consumption, veterinary use, or any other application.
