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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · rat · 2026

8 results

Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide-6 (GHRP-6) Ameliorates Post-Infarct Ventricular Remodeling and Systolic Dysfunction in a Model of Permanent Coronary Ligation.

Wang L, Rodriguez-Ulloa A, Berlanga-Acosta J, García-Ojalvo A, Abreu-Cruz A, Gonzalez-López LJ, Besada-López V, Ramos-Gómez Y, Guillén-Nieto G, Jiang B

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)12 Mar 2026

PMID41901314 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13029777 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/ph19030468 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41901314
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Summary

Background/Objective: GHRP-6 is a GH secretagogue hexapeptide with expanding and promising cardioprotective effects. Having determined 0.4 mg/kg as the minimum effective dose for enhancing inotropy based on echocardiographic parameters in healthy rats, we implemented a non-reperfusion myocardial infarct model, with its consequent left ventricle wall thinning and ballooning, via permanent left descending coronary artery ligation. Methods: Rats were assigned to three groups: sham-operated/normal rats, infarcted + saline-treated control rats, and infarcted + GHRP-6-administration rats. Treatments were initiated post-surgery and continued for 7 days. On day 7, the animals were echocardiographically and histologically evaluated. For mitochondrial proteomic analysis, an additional 12 healthy rats were used. Six animals received GHRP-6 or normal saline and were observed for 6 h after the inoculation. Results: Here, we show that GHRP-6 attenuated myocardial tissue demise, reduced myocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring, and integrally improved left ventricle physiology. The proteomic analysis indicated that the GHRP-6 cardioprotective effects may be theoretically mediated by the concerted upregulation of proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, apoptosis prevention pathways, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming. Conclusions: GHRP-6 is a potent cardioprotective candidate attenuating morphological and functional outcomes caused by late ischemia.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In healthy rats, GHRP‑6 upregulated proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats, GHRP‑6 increased proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid breakdown versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    IncreaseFatty acid beta-oxidation proteins/pathways
    Study

    ratn = 12

    Healthy rats used for mitochondrial proteomic analysis
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Mitochondrial function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The proteomic analysis indicated that the GHRP-6 cardioprotective effects may be theoretically mediated by the concerted upregulation of proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, apoptosis prevention pathways, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    For mitochondrial proteomic analysis, an additional 12 healthy rats were used.
    Summary · context
    Six animals received GHRP-6 or normal saline and were observed for 6 h after the inoculation.
  2. 02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In healthy rats, GHRP‑6 upregulated proteins/pathways involved in apoptosis prevention versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats, GHRP‑6 increased proteins/pathways involved in preventing cell death versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    IncreaseApoptosis prevention proteins/pathways
    Study

    ratn = 12

    Healthy rats used for mitochondrial proteomic analysis
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The proteomic analysis indicated that the GHRP-6 cardioprotective effects may be theoretically mediated by the concerted upregulation of proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, apoptosis prevention pathways, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    For mitochondrial proteomic analysis, an additional 12 healthy rats were used.
    Summary · context
    Six animals received GHRP-6 or normal saline and were observed for 6 h after the inoculation.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In healthy rats, GHRP‑6 upregulated proteins/pathways involved in antioxidant defenses versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats, GHRP‑6 increased antioxidant defense proteins/pathways versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    IncreaseAntioxidant defense proteins/pathways
    Study

    ratn = 12

    Healthy rats used for mitochondrial proteomic analysis
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The proteomic analysis indicated that the GHRP-6 cardioprotective effects may be theoretically mediated by the concerted upregulation of proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, apoptosis prevention pathways, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    For mitochondrial proteomic analysis, an additional 12 healthy rats were used.
    Summary · context
    Six animals received GHRP-6 or normal saline and were observed for 6 h after the inoculation.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In healthy rats, GHRP‑6 upregulated proteins/pathways involved in mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats, GHRP‑6 increased proteins/pathways involved in mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    IncreaseMitochondrial metabolic reprogramming proteins/pathways
    Study

    ratn = 12

    Healthy rats used for mitochondrial proteomic analysis
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Mitochondrial function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The proteomic analysis indicated that the GHRP-6 cardioprotective effects may be theoretically mediated by the concerted upregulation of proteins/pathways involved in fatty acid beta-oxidation, apoptosis prevention pathways, antioxidant defenses, and mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    For mitochondrial proteomic analysis, an additional 12 healthy rats were used.
    Summary · context
    Six animals received GHRP-6 or normal saline and were observed for 6 h after the inoculation.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In rats with permanent coronary ligation, GHRP‑6 attenuated myocardial tissue demise versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats with permanent coronary ligation, GHRP‑6 reduced heart tissue death versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    DecreaseMyocardial tissue demise
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    Permanent left descending coronary artery ligation
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 7 daysAs given in this study (rat).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Here, we show that GHRP-6 attenuated myocardial tissue demise, reduced myocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring, and integrally improved left ventricle physiology.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Rats were assigned to three groups: sham-operated/normal rats, infarcted + saline-treated control rats, and infarcted + GHRP-6-administration rats.
    Summary · context
    Treatments were initiated post-surgery and continued for 7 days.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In rats with permanent coronary ligation, GHRP‑6 reduced myocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats with permanent coronary ligation, GHRP‑6 reduced heart scarring versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    DecreaseMyocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    Permanent left descending coronary artery ligation
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 7 daysAs given in this study (rat).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Here, we show that GHRP-6 attenuated myocardial tissue demise, reduced myocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring, and integrally improved left ventricle physiology.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Rats were assigned to three groups: sham-operated/normal rats, infarcted + saline-treated control rats, and infarcted + GHRP-6-administration rats.
    Summary · context
    Treatments were initiated post-surgery and continued for 7 days.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In rats with permanent coronary ligation, GHRP‑6 improved left ventricle physiology versus saline.

    In plain wordsIn rats with permanent coronary ligation, GHRP‑6 improved left ventricle function versus saline.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedLeft ventricle physiology
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    Permanent left descending coronary artery ligation
    Comparator
    Normal saline
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 7 daysAs given in this study (rat).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Here, we show that GHRP-6 attenuated myocardial tissue demise, reduced myocardial interstitial fibrosis/scarring, and integrally improved left ventricle physiology.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Rats were assigned to three groups: sham-operated/normal rats, infarcted + saline-treated control rats, and infarcted + GHRP-6-administration rats.
    Summary · context
    Treatments were initiated post-surgery and continued for 7 days.
  8. 08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In healthy rats, 0.4 mg/kg GHRP‑6 was the minimum effective dose for enhancing inotropy based on echocardiographic parameters.

    In plain wordsIn rats, 0.4 mg/kg GHRP‑6 was the minimum effective dose for increasing heart contraction strength.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    IncreaseMinimum effective dose for enhancing inotropy
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    Healthy rats
    Outcome group
    Heart function · Cardiovascular
    Studied dose
    0.4 mg/kgAs given in this study (rat).

    Measurements

    Minimum effective dose
    0.4 mg/kg
    enhancing inotropy in healthy rats

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Having determined 0.4 mg/kg as the minimum effective dose for enhancing inotropy based on echocardiographic parameters in healthy rats, we implemented a non-reperfusion myocardial infarct model, with its consequent left ventricle wall thinning and ballooning, via permanent left descending coronary artery ligation.

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

    21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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