GHRP-5
An early growth hormone-releasing pentapeptide studied in rats in 2001 and 2002, then only in anti-doping chemistry; no study has given it to people. WADA names it.
GHRP-5 is a synthetic pentapeptide amide, Tyr-Trp-Ala-Trp-Phe-NH2 with D-residues, from the early family of growth hormone-releasing peptides (two rat papers call it the Momany peptide). In rats it raised growth hormone release after single and repeated doses and changed the fine structure of pituitary growth hormone cells (2001); a second study found it raised prolactin release from pituitary cells in culture but not serum prolactin in treated rats (2002). The other papers found are doping-control methods. WADA names it among the prohibited growth hormone-releasing peptides. It was never approved, and no study found gave it to people.
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Recommended Dosing
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Mechanism of action
A growth hormone-releasing peptide acting directly on the pituitary: in rats it raised growth hormone release through the phospholipase C-inositol phosphate pathway (2001) and acted on lactotrophs, raising prolactin release and prolactin mRNA in culture (2002).
Primary uses
- Research: pituitary pharmacology (rats)
- Anti-doping: detection methods
Typical dosing
No human dose: no study found gave GHRP-5 to people; the two treatment studies used rats.
Regulatory status
Never approved: Drugs@FDA and the EMA medicines list hold no record (searched October 28, 2026). Named on the WADA 2026 and 2027 Prohibited Lists under S2.2.4 (growth hormone-releasing peptides).
Status as of this entry's last review, October 29, 2026. Approvals, compounding rules and sport rules change; the regulatory tracker is checked more often.
What we checked
GHRP-5 is an early growth hormone-releasing peptide with two rat studies and an anti-doping literature; this section records what can be checked.
Identity, computed
| Sequence | Tyr-Trp-Ala-Trp-Phe-NH2 (PubChem CID 131305; its synonyms list two different patterns of D-residues, so none is stated here) |
| Formula | C43H46N8O6 (PubChem) |
| Molecular weight | 770.9 g/mol (PubChem) |
PubChem's record carries conflicting stereochemistry in its synonyms, so the sequence is given without D- markings; formula and weight are PubChem's.
Regulatory status, read October 28, 2026
Drugs@FDA: 0 records for “GHRP-5”. EMA medicines list: 0 records for “GHRP-5”. Run for semaglutide, the same queries return 6 and 5 records (and the registry search 80 trials), so a zero here is an absence, not a broken search. WADA 2026: section S2.2.4; WADA 2027: section S2.2.4.
What the studies show
In rats, single and repeated doses raised growth hormone release and changed the fine structure of pituitary growth hormone cells; in cultured pituitary cells the effect ran through the phospholipase C-inositol phosphate pathway (De Paul et al., 2001).
In rats, single and repeated doses raised growth hormone release and changed the fine structure of pituitary growth hormone cells; in cultured pituitary cells the effect ran through the phospholipase C-inositol phosphate pathway (De Paul et al., 2001).
In rats, GHRP-5 given for three days did not change serum prolactin, but in pituitary cell culture it raised prolactin release and prolactin mRNA (De Paul et al., 2002).
What we looked for and did not find
No human study, no registry record and no drug approval. A 1981 design paper and a 1984 goat study tested Tyr-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-NH2; they are not counted here because the D-residue pattern of GHRP-5 is recorded inconsistently.
| Source | Query | Results, October 28, 2026 | What it was |
|---|---|---|---|
| PubMed | "GHRP-5"[tiab] | 9 | |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | GHRP-5 | 0 | |
| Drugs@FDA (openFDA) | GHRP-5 | 0 | |
| EMA medicines list | GHRP-5 | 0 |
References
- [other] PubChem CID 131305, Tyrosyl-tryptophyl-alanyl-tryptophyl-phenylalaninamide (GHRP-5): formula C43H46N8O6, molecular weight 770.9. Read October 28, 2026. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/131305
- [pubmed] De Paul AL, et al. "Prolactin-releasing activity of GHRP-5 (Momany peptide) on lactotrophs in vivo and in vitro." Biocell, 2002;26(1):49-60. PMID: 12058381.
- [pubmed] Bonaterra M, et al. "Behaviour of a somatotroph population under a growth hormone releasing peptide treatment." Histochem J, 2001;33(11-12):675-83. PMID: 12197676.
- [pubmed] Thomas A, et al. "Determination of growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRP) and their major metabolites in human urine for doping controls by means of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry." Anal Bioanal Chem, 2011;401(2):507-16. PMID: 21298258.
- [pubmed] Judák P, et al. "Adsorption effects of the doping relevant peptides Insulin Lispro, Synachten, TB-500 and GHRP 5." Anal Biochem, 2017;537:69-71. PMID: 28887173.
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This entry is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Dosing information reflects published regulatory or research data and is not a recommendation. Many compounds described here are not approved for human use in the United States. Consult a licensed medical professional before considering any peptide therapy.