porcine growth hormone releasing hormone

Porcine growth hormone-releasing hormone (pGHRH) is a 44-amino acid hypothalamic peptide that acts as a primary regulator of the somatotropic axis. It functions by binding to the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland, stimulating the synthesis and pulsatile secretion of endogenous growth hormone (GH). This activation triggers a signaling cascade involving G-protein activation, adenylate cyclase stimulation, and increased intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels. The resulting increase in GH promotes the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which mediates systemic growth and metabolic effects. In veterinary medicine, pGHRH is primarily utilized via plasmid-mediated gene supplementation (e.g., LifeTide SW 5) to enhance reproductive efficiency in sows and improve the health and weaning weights of piglets. It has also been investigated in human clinical research for its potential to treat growth hormone deficiencies and muscle wasting conditions such as cancer-related cachexia.

Brand names

LifeTide SW 5

Other names

porcine somatorelinpGHRH-44pGHRH44pGHRH 44porcine GHRH