GHRP-6: sourcing, documentation and price

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) is a synthetic hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue, also written as growth hormone-releasing protein-6 and abbreviated GHRP-6. It is a ghrelin analog and is grouped with the growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) alongside GHRP-2, hexarelin and ipamorelin in reviews of peptides marketed as research compounds [5]. The evidence block used for this page does not supply a sequence, molecular formula or molecular weight for GHRP-6, so none is stated here. Where a catalogue listing is required, the material is held as GHRP-6.

The work reviewed below centres on the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), the ghrelin receptor, through which GHRP-6 and ghrelin both act [3].

Research Studies

GHRP-6 and post-infarct ventricular remodeling in rats

In a non-reperfusion myocardial infarct model produced by permanent left descending coronary artery ligation, rats were assigned to sham-operated, infarcted plus saline, and infarcted plus GHRP-6 groups, with treatment started after surgery and continued for seven days. The authors had previously determined 0.4 mg/kg as the minimum effective dose for enhancing inotropy by echocardiographic parameters in healthy rats, and reported that GHRP-6 ameliorated post-infarct ventricular remodeling and systolic dysfunction in this model [1]. This is an animal study; no human cardiac endpoint is reported in the evidence block.

GHRP-6 and endocrine and immune responses in gilthead sea bream

GHRP-6 was included in aquafeed at 500 µg/kg of feed and assessed in Sparus aurata following Incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) treatment. After 97 days, fish were injected intraperitoneally with saline or IFA at 100 µL/100 g fish, and the study examined endocrine and immune responses to the ghrelin analog delivered through feed [2]. The findings are specific to this fish species and this delivery route.

GHRP-6 and locomotor activity during acute nicotine withdrawal in rats

Male and female Wistar rats received intraperitoneal nicotine at 2 mg/kg or saline twice daily for seven days, and the study investigated the effects of ghrelin and GHRP-6 on horizontal and vertical activity during acute nicotine withdrawal. Ghrelin and GHRP-6 were described as peptides that stimulate GH release through the same receptor, and changes in locomotor activity observed during acute withdrawal were attenuated by both [3]. This is a rodent behavioural model.

GHRP-6 and human oocyte maturation in in vitro maturation culture

A total of 240 human germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes were cultured in varying concentrations of GHRP-6, described as a ghrelin hormone agonist, with maturation rates assessed during culture. The stated aim was to determine the most effective concentration of GHRP-6 in in vitro maturation (IVM) culture medium [7]. This is an in vitro study on human oocytes; it does not establish any in vivo effect.

GHRP-6 and ghrelin-dopamine signalling in a rat model of depression

A novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor was evaluated in the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat model of major depressive disorder, with behavioural assessment by forced swim test, sucrose preference test and novel object recognition test, and with the ghrelin-dopamine cascade examined as a mechanism [8]. GHRP-6 appears in this literature as a ghrelin-receptor-directed tool rather than as the primary intervention, and the findings are animal-only.

GHRP-6 and feeding behaviour in broiler chickens

In a series of intracerebroventricular injection experiments in broiler chickens, LEAP-2 was administered at 0.75, 1.5 and 3 nmol, and the interaction with cannabinoid and ghrelin systems on food intake was tested using (D-Lys-3)-GHRP-6 at 0.5 nmol among the treatments [6]. Here GHRP-6 is used as a receptor-directed pharmacological probe in an avian feeding model.

GHRP-6 in acute lung injury and acute kidney injury models

Two reference-only reports describe GHRP-6 in injury models. One reports that GHRP-6 ameliorated acute lung injury and its subsequent evolution to interstitial fibrosis, in lipopolysaccharide- and zymosan-induced lung injury biomodels [9]. The other reports a GHRP-6 hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation, targeting the metabolic reprogramming of renal tubular epithelial cells that influences whether kidneys recover or develop fibrosis [10]. Both are preclinical and neither is developed further here.

GHRP-6 and antiviral activity in fish

A reference-only study evaluated GHRP-6, described as a six-amino-acid synthetic peptide acting as a ghrelin analog with growth-promoting and immunomodulatory activity in several fish species, against infection with nervous necrosis virus (NNV) [11]. The result is confined to that virus and those species.

GHRP-6 in the wider performance-peptide literature

A review of performance-enhancing peptides marketed as research compounds places GHRP-6 among the growth hormone secretagogues encountered in clinical practice and in online self-administration protocols, alongside GHRH analogues, GHRP-2, hexarelin, ipamorelin, AOD9604 and IGF-1 analogues [5]. That review addresses the gap between clinical evidence and self-administration; it is not a source of dosing information.

Comparison of models and endpoints

Documentation and sourcing

For a research-supply listing, the documentation that matters is the identity of the peptide, the lot-specific analytical data and the stated storage conditions. The evidence block for this page does not provide a sequence, formula or molecular weight, so a buyer comparing listings should expect those values to come from the supplier's own certificate of analysis rather than from the primary literature cited here. Reviews of this compound class note that these peptides are marketed as research compounds and are encountered in self-administration settings [5]; that framing is a reason for tighter documentation, not looser.

Price

The evidence block contains no pricing data, no vendor comparison and no cost-per-milligram figures for GHRP-6. Price therefore cannot be reported from these sources. What can be said is that the studies above span markedly different quantities and formats — from 0.4 mg/kg in rats [1] to 500 µg/kg of feed in fish [2] to varying concentrations in oocyte culture medium [7] — so any price comparison is only meaningful once the presentation, quantity and documentation package are specified.

If you are reading this for personal health reasons

This material is sold for laboratory research only. We do not provide dosing or medical guidance, and nothing on this page is medical advice. Anyone considering a compound for themselves should speak to a licensed clinician.

Sources

• [1] Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide-6 (GHRP-6) Ameliorates Post-Infarct Ventricular Remodeling and Systolic Dysfunction in a Model of Permanent Coronary Ligation — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13029777
• [2] The Ghrelin Analog GHRP-6, Delivered Through Aquafeeds, Modulates the Endocrine and Immune Responses of Sparus aurata Following IFA Treatment — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12383794
• [3] Changes in Locomotor Activity Observed During Acute Nicotine Withdrawal Can Be Attenuated by Ghrelin and GHRP-6 in Rats — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC11761252
• [4] Anterior cervical osteophyte-related dysphagia in a long-term growth hormone user: a case report — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13375183
• [5] The emerging landscape of performance-enhancing peptides modulating GH-IGF1 axis: bridging the gap between clinical evidence and patient self-administration — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13322892
• [6] Effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of antimicrobial peptide expressed in the body-2 (LEAP-2) and its interaction with cannabinoid and ghrelin systems on food intake in broiler chickens — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12950399
• [7] Assessing The Effectiveness of Growth Hormone Releasing Protein-6 in Improving Human Oocyte Maturation and Meiotic Progression in In Vitro Maturation Culture Media — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12530215
• [8] A novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitor induces antidepressant, pro-cognitive, and anti-anhedonic effects in Flinders Sensitive Line rats: The role of the ghrelin-dopamine cascade — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40318448/
• [9] Growth hormone releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) ameliorates acute lung injury and its subsequent evolvement to interstitial fibrosis — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41534456/
• [10] Growth hormone-releasing peptide 6 (GHRP-6) hydrogel for acute kidney injury therapy via metabolic regulation — https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC12777158
• [11] Anti-nervous necrosis virus activity of the growth hormone releasing peptide-6, GHRP-6 — no URL provided in evidence block
• [12] Ghrelin impairs embryo development after ovarian hyperstimulation — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42461148/