Skip to content

Study · Non-randomized trial · n = 45 · 1995

10 results

The growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, in short normal and obese children and in hypopituitary subjects.

Loche S, Cambiaso P, Carta D, Setzu S, Imbimbo BP, Borrelli P, Pintor C, Cappa M

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism1 Feb 1995Cited by 25 (Europe PMC)

PMID7852535 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1210/jcem.80.2.7852535 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-07852535
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 10 results

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study10

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

  1. 01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In short normal children, hexarelin caused a prompt and clear-cut rise in serum GH, with peaks 15-30 min after injection.

    In plain wordsIn short children with normal GH, hexarelin quickly raised GH, with peaks 15 to 30 minutes after the injection.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseGH response to hexarelin in short normal children
    Study

    n = 45

    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In all short normal children Hex caused a prompt and clear-cut increase of serum GH concentrations, with peaks occurring between 15-30 min from injection.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  2. 02HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In short normal children, the GH response to hexarelin was significantly higher than the response to GHRH.

    In plain wordsIn short children with normal GH, hexarelin raised GH more than GHRH did.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseGH response to hexarelin versus GHRH in short normal children
    Study

    n = 45

    Comparator
    GHRH 1 microgram/kg iv
    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The GH response to Hex was significantly higher than that observed after GHRH and was not different between males and females or between prepubertal and pubertal subjects.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  3. 03HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In short normal children, the GH response to hexarelin did not differ between males and females or between prepubertal and pubertal subjects.

    In plain wordsIn short children with normal GH, the hexarelin GH response was similar in boys and girls and before and during puberty.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSex and puberty difference in GH response to hexarelin
    Study

    n = 45

    Comparator
    Males versus females; prepubertal versus pubertal
    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The GH response to Hex was significantly higher than that observed after GHRH and was not different between males and females or between prepubertal and pubertal subjects.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  4. 04HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In prepubertal obese children, the GH response to hexarelin was significantly lower than in prepubertal children.

    In plain wordsIn obese children, hexarelin raised GH less than in non-obese prepubertal children.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    DecreaseGH response to hexarelin in obese versus prepubertal children
    Study

    n = 10

    Comparator
    Prepubertal short normal children
    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In the obese children the GH responses to GHRH and to Hex were significantly lower than in the prepubertal children.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  5. 05HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In obese children, the GH response to hexarelin was significantly higher than the response to GHRH.

    In plain wordsIn obese children, hexarelin raised GH more than GHRH did.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseGH response to hexarelin versus GHRH in obese children
    Study

    n = 10

    Comparator
    GHRH 1 microgram/kg iv
    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Also, in the obese, the GH response to Hex was significantly higher than that observed after GHRH.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  6. 06HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In subjects with organic hypopituitarism, hexarelin caused no GH increase.

    In plain wordsIn people with pituitary disease, hexarelin did not raise GH.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    No significant changeGH response to hexarelin in hypopituitary subjects
    Study

    n = 5

    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No GH increase was observed in the hypopituitary subjects after either GHRH or Hex administration.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  7. 07HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In short normal and obese children but not in hypopituitary subjects, hexarelin caused a slight but significant increase in cortisol from baseline, back to baseline within 2 h.

    In plain wordsIn short and obese children, hexarelin caused a small, short rise in cortisol. Hypopituitary subjects showed no rise.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseCortisol after hexarelin
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Baseline
    Outcome group
    Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In all short normal and obese children, but not in the hypopituitary subjects, Hex administration caused a slight but significant increase from baseline of both cortisol and PRL concentrations that returned to the baseline values within 2 h.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  8. 08HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In short normal and obese children but not in hypopituitary subjects, hexarelin caused a slight but significant increase in prolactin from baseline, back to baseline within 2 h.

    In plain wordsIn short and obese children, hexarelin caused a small, short rise in prolactin. Hypopituitary subjects showed no rise.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseProlactin after hexarelin
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Baseline
    Outcome group
    Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In all short normal and obese children, but not in the hypopituitary subjects, Hex administration caused a slight but significant increase from baseline of both cortisol and PRL concentrations that returned to the baseline values within 2 h.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).
  9. 09HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    None of the subjects experienced adverse side effects after hexarelin administration.

    In plain wordsNo one in the study had side effects after hexarelin.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAdverse side effects
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Whole body
    Studied dose
    2 micrograms/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    None of the subjects experienced adverse side effects after Hex administration.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Hexarelin.

  1. 10HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In 5 males with constitutional growth delay, priming with testosterone enanthate increased the GH response to hexarelin.

    In plain wordsIn 5 boys with delayed growth, a testosterone injection before hexarelin increased the GH response to hexarelin.

    Peptide
    Hexarelin
    Outcome
    IncreaseTestosterone priming and GH response to hexarelin
    Study

    n = 5

    Comparator
    Hexarelin response before priming
    Outcome group
    Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Priming with testosterone resulted in an increased GH response to Hex in all 5 subjects studied.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In 5 male subjects with constitutional growth delay (age 12.0-13.7 yr), the GH response to Hex was reevaluated 1 week after priming with testosterone enanthate (100 mg im).
    Summary · context
    in 45 short normal children (24 males and 21 females, age 5.9-14 yr, 24 prepubertal and 21 in Tanner stage 2 or 3 of pubertal maturation), in 10 prepubertal obese children (7 males and 3 females, age 7.5-12 yr), and in 5 subjects with organic hypopituitarism (4 males and 1 female, age 8.4-21 yr).

    In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.