Neuromedin N (NN)
A six-amino-acid neurotensin twin from the same precursor — analgesic and gut-active at neurotensin receptors. A research peptide, not a drug
Neuromedin N (NN) is a tiny neurotensin-like peptide — just six amino acids — that the body makes from the very same precursor protein as neurotensin. The two peptides sit side by side at the tail end of pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N and are released together when it is processed. Neuromedin N's sequence (Lys-Ile-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) closely mirrors the business end of neurotensin, so it acts on the same neurotensin receptors, though less potently, and shares several of neurotensin's actions: it produces opioid-independent pain relief, stimulates the exocrine pancreas and increases splanchnic (gut) blood flow, and lowers blood pressure. Where it differs from neurotensin is in how quickly it is switched off — neuromedin N is rapidly chewed up by an enzyme (aminopeptidase), giving it a shorter, more local action. Neuromedin N is studied as a research tool for the neurotensin system; it is not an approved medicine and has not been given to people as a treatment.
No established human dose Details ↓
Recommended Dosing
No established human dose
Neuromedin N is an endogenous human peptide that has never been given to people as a treatment. The work is in animals and cells, where neuromedin N is injected into the brain or given to animals at experimental amounts that do not carry over to people.
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What is it?
Neurotensin is a well-studied neuropeptide of the brain and gut. What is less widely known is that the same precursor protein that makes neurotensin — pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N — also carries a second, smaller peptide: neuromedin N. The two lie in the C-terminal region of the precursor, separated and flanked by pairs of basic amino acids that processing enzymes (prohormone convertases) cut. Depending on the tissue, that cutting yields neurotensin and neuromedin N (in the brain) or larger forms ending in the neuromedin N or neurotensin sequence (in gut and adrenal), so the one gene gives rise to a family of related active peptides.
Neuromedin N itself is a hexapeptide, Lys-Ile-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu, and its sequence is strongly homologous to the C-terminal part of neurotensin that carries neurotensin's activity. Because of this, neuromedin N binds and activates neurotensin receptors — in neuronal cells it stimulates the second messenger cyclic GMP and competes with neurotensin for binding — though it is generally less potent than neurotensin itself.
Functionally, neuromedin N echoes neurotensin. Injected into the brain of mice it produces antinociception (pain relief) that, like neurotensin's, is not blocked by the opioid antagonist naloxone — an opioid-independent analgesia. In dogs, synthetic neuromedin N stimulates the exocrine pancreas, increases portal and mesenteric blood flow and lowers arterial pressure, marking it as a biologically active neurotensin-like peptide in the periphery as well as the brain.
A key difference between the two peptides is their durability. Neurotensin is inactivated by a set of endopeptidases, while neuromedin N is mainly broken down by an aminopeptidase that trims it from the end; blocking those enzymes with peptidase inhibitors strongly potentiates and prolongs neuromedin N's effects. Its gene expression is also tightly regulated — driven by combinations of signals such as c-Jun and glucocorticoids acting on the neurotensin/neuromedin N promoter.
Neuromedin N is an endogenous human peptide and a research tool, not a medicine. No published study has given neuromedin N to people as a treatment — the work is in animals and cells — it is approved nowhere, and material sold online as 'neuromedin N' is an unregulated research chemical. Nothing here is a dose or a therapy; this page records what the published science says about the peptide.
Mechanism of Action
Neuromedin N is a neurotensin-like hexapeptide from the same precursor as neurotensin. It acts at neurotensin receptors (less potently than neurotensin), producing opioid-independent analgesia and stimulating the pancreas and gut circulation, and is rapidly inactivated by aminopeptidase.
Neurotensin-receptor agonism
Neuromedin N's C-terminal-like sequence lets it bind and activate neurotensin receptors — stimulating cyclic GMP and competing with neurotensin for binding in neuronal cells, at lower potency than neurotensin (PMID 3023108).
Opioid-independent analgesia
Given centrally, neuromedin N produces naloxone-insensitive pain relief; because it is rapidly degraded, peptidase inhibitors greatly potentiate and prolong the effect (PMID 20501239).
Pancreas and splanchnic circulation
Neuromedin N stimulates exocrine-pancreas secretion and increases gut (portal/mesenteric) blood flow while lowering arterial pressure (PMID 3299129); tissue-specific processing of the shared precursor sets how much NN versus neurotensin is made (PMID 16904237).
Published Research
These are studies of neuromedin N read from their PubMed abstracts on November 6, 2026. They include two reviews of the processing and inactivation of the neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor and peptides, an animal study of neuromedin N on the pancreas and gut circulation, an animal study of its opioid-independent analgesia, a cell study of its action at neurotensin receptors, and a study of neurotensin/neuromedin N gene regulation. Neuromedin N has not been given to people as a treatment in any published study; the evidence is animal and cell work.
Processing of the pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor
A review of how the pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor is cut. Neurotensin and the six-amino-acid neuromedin N sit in the C-terminal region, separated by three Lys-Arg sites that prohormone convertases (PC1, PC2, PC5-A) cleave differently in brain, gut and adrenal — generating neurotensin, neuromedin N and larger active forms. Because all of these are biologically active, tissue-specific processing generates biological diversity.
Inactivation of neurotensin and neuromedin N
A review of how the two related peptides are switched off. Neurotensin is degraded mainly by three zinc metallo-endopeptidases, whereas neuromedin N is inactivated chiefly by the zinc exopeptidase aminopeptidase M. Knowing these inactivation routes, the authors note, opens the way to designing metabolically stable analogs of neurotensin and neuromedin N with potential therapeutic value.
Neuromedin N on pancreas and gut blood flow in dogs
In dogs, intravenous synthetic neuromedin N dose-dependently lowered arterial pressure and increased portal and superior-mesenteric blood flow and pancreatic capillary flow, and raised the volume and protein output of pancreatic juice. The study was the first to show neuromedin N is a potent stimulator of the pancreas and splanchnic circulation — a biologically active neurotensin-like peptide in mammals (a preclinical result).
Neuromedin N produces opioid-independent analgesia
Injected into the brain of mice, neuromedin N produced antinociception in the writhing and tail-flick tests, though at higher doses than neurotensin. The effect was not blocked by naloxone (so it is opioid-independent), and because neuromedin N is rapidly degraded by endopeptidase-24.11 and aminopeptidases, peptidase inhibitors (thiorphan and bestatin) strongly potentiated its analgesia — down to very low doses (a preclinical result).
Neuromedin N acts at neurotensin receptors
In a neuroblastoma cell line, neuromedin N (like neurotensin, xenopsin and LANT-6) stimulated intracellular cyclic GMP and competed with neurotensin for binding to the neurotensin receptor. Its potency was lower than neurotensin's, placing neuromedin N among the naturally occurring neurotensin-receptor agonists (a cell result).
Regulation of neurotensin/neuromedin N gene expression
In the neuroendocrine PC12 cell line, the neurotensin/neuromedin N gene was activated synergistically by c-Jun and glucocorticoids acting on an AP-1 site in the promoter, with Fos-family proteins tuning the response. The work mapped how diverse signals are integrated to control expression of the shared neurotensin/neuromedin N gene (a cell result).
No Established Human Dose
Neuromedin N is an endogenous human peptide that has never been given to people as a treatment. The work is in animals and cells, where neuromedin N is injected into the brain or given to animals at experimental amounts that do not carry over to people. No regulator has approved any dose, and no published human dose exists, so no amount is printed here.
What this rests on: PMID 3299129, PMID 20501239, PMID 16904237.
Educational information, not medical advice. The doses on this page come from approved labels, published studies and, where no study exists, amounts reported by users. None is a recommendation for you. An unapproved compound has no established safe or effective human dose, and products sold for “research use only” are not made or tested for people. Talk to a doctor before acting on anything on this site, including before you start, stop or change any medicine or dose. Full medical disclaimer.
What a Buyer Needs to Know
What is sold, how it is mixed, stored and taken, and what is known about its safety, quality and legal status. Each part names its source. Where we have none, it says unknown.
What is sold
Unknown: we hold no label and no published test that says what forms or vial sizes Neuromedin N (NN) is sold in. A vial's own label is a seller's claim, not a source.
Mixing a vial: a worked example
Unknown: no human dose of Neuromedin N (NN) has been established (see No Established Human Dose below), so there is no amount to work out. The reconstitution calculator does the arithmetic for any vial, water and dose.
Storage before and after mixing
Unknown: no label or published stability study on file says how to store Neuromedin N (NN), before or after mixing. The mixing guide sets out the general rules, with their sources: keep a mixed vial in the fridge, and use it promptly, as the bacteriostatic water label says of any drug dissolved in it. The 28 days often quoted is the limit for an opened multiple-dose vial from a manufacturer, an outer limit set for sterility, not a time a mixed solution has been shown to keep. Nobody has published how long Neuromedin N (NN) stays intact once mixed.
How it is taken
Unknown: with no established human dose, there is no established way of taking Neuromedin N (NN). What the human studies gave and how is set out under No Established Human Dose.
What to expect, and when
How long it stays in the body: a half-life of not established for humans as a drug; an endogenous signalling peptide, rapidly degraded. After about five half-lives almost none is left.
When effects appear: unknown; no source on this page gives a time to effect for Neuromedin N (NN). Results reported in the studies are under Published Research.
Source: half-life: PMID 16904239.
Side effects, and when to stop or get help
From the Side Effects section: No human adverse-event data exist: no published study has administered neuromedin N to people; In animals, neuromedin N lowers arterial pressure and changes gut blood flow and pancreatic secretion (PMID 3299129), so cardiovascular and digestive effects would be expected if administered; It is rapidly degraded by peptidases, giving a short action unless those enzymes are blocked (PMID 20501239) — a pharmacological property, not a safety profile; Material sold online as 'neuromedin N' is an unregulated research chemical of unverified content. Full list and cautions ↓
When to stop or get help: unknown; no label or trial on file sets rules for stopping Neuromedin N (NN). Treat a severe or unexpected reaction as a reason to stop and see a doctor.
Source: the Side Effects section below (“Neuromedin N is an endogenous peptide that has not been given to people as a drug, so there is no human safety profile; the points below reflect that research status”).
Interactions
Unknown: a PubMed search for human interaction studies of Neuromedin N (NN) (reviewed 2026-11-06) found none. Unknown is not the same as safe to combine.
Every peptide's record, with its source: the interaction matrix.
Checking what you bought
Unknown: no published independent test of Neuromedin N (NN) products is in our lab-results database yet, so how products sold under this name measure up is not known.
To read a certificate of analysis, paste it into the COA decoder. Trust & Verification explains what independent testing can and cannot show.
Legal status
US: Research Chemical (Not a drug: Drugs@FDA and the openFDA label endpoint hold no record, and FDA GSRS and ChEMBL hold no substance record for neuromedin N (searched November 6, 2026)). Sport: Not on the 2026 List.
Country by country ↓ · Regulatory tracker
Source: this entry's approval status and the WADA Prohibited List, as in Legal Status below.
Side Effects & Contraindications
Reported Side Effects
Neuromedin N is an endogenous peptide that has not been given to people as a drug, so there is no human safety profile; the points below reflect that research status.
Contraindications & Cautions
Neuromedin N has no approved use and no label. These points reflect its endogenous, research status.
Legal Status
Neuromedin N is an endogenous human peptide studied as a research compound; it is not a drug and is not approved in any country.
Frequently Asked Questions
?What is neuromedin N?
An endogenous human peptide — a six-amino-acid neurotensin-like hexapeptide (Lys-Ile-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu) made from the same precursor as neurotensin. Its sequence mirrors the active end of neurotensin, so it acts at neurotensin receptors.
?What does it do?
Like neurotensin, it produces opioid-independent pain relief (PMID 20501239), stimulates the exocrine pancreas and gut blood flow while lowering blood pressure (PMID 3299129), and activates neurotensin receptors (PMID 3023108) — but it is less potent and shorter-acting, being quickly degraded.
?Is it a treatment for anything?
No. Neuromedin N is a research peptide used to study the neurotensin system; the therapeutic interest is in stable neurotensin-receptor ligands, not in giving neuromedin N. No human trial has administered it, and it is approved nowhere.
?Is it approved or available to buy?
No. Neuromedin N is not a medicine, has no FDA application or label, and is approved nowhere. Material sold online as neuromedin N is an unregulated research chemical. Grey Peptides lists no sellers and recommends no source; this page records the published science.
References
- [review] Kitabgi P. "Differential processing of pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N and relationship to pro-hormone convertases." Peptides, 2006;27(10):2508-14. PMID: 16904237.
- [review] Kitabgi P. "Inactivation of neurotensin and neuromedin N by Zn metallopeptidases." Peptides, 2006;27(10):2515-22. PMID: 16904239.
- [animal] Sumi S, et al. "Effect of synthetic neuromedin-N, a novel neurotensin-like peptide, on exocrine pancreatic secretion and splanchnic blood flow in dogs." Neuropeptides, 1987;9(3):247-55. PMID: 3299129.
- [animal] Coquerel A, et al. "Potentiation by thiorphan and bestatin of the naloxone-insensitive analgesic effects of neurotensin and neuromedin n." Neurochem Int, 1988;12(3):361-6. PMID: 20501239.
- [mechanism] Gilbert JA, et al. "LANT-6, xenopsin and neuromedin N stimulate cyclic GMP at neurotensin receptors." Eur J Pharmacol, 1986;129(3):379-83. PMID: 3023108.
- [mechanism] Harrison RJ, et al. "Synergistic activation of neurotensin/neuromedin N gene expression by c-Jun and glucocorticoids: novel effects of Fos family proteins." Mol Endocrinol, 1995;9(8):981-93. PMID: 7476995.
- [other] UniProt P30990 (NEUT_HUMAN), read November 6, 2026: neuromedin N is encoded, together with neurotensin, in the pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor (NTS gene); the human peptide is the hexapeptide Lys-Ile-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu (KIPYIL), homologous to the C-terminus of neurotensin. https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P30990/entry
- [other] Neuromedin N was isolated from porcine spinal cord as a neurotensin-like hexapeptide and shown to share the same precursor as neurotensin; the processing of pro-neurotensin/neuromedin N is set out in the review carded on this page (read November 6, 2026).
- [other] US FDA, Drugs@FDA and the drug label endpoint (openFDA), searched November 6, 2026: no application and no label record for neuromedin N. It is an endogenous human peptide, not a registered drug; FDA GSRS and ChEMBL hold no substance record for it.
Sources & Citations
The six studies carded above were read from their PubMed records on November 6, 2026. Identity comes from UniProt (P30990, gene NTS); neuromedin N's KIPYIL hexapeptide sequence, its origin in the shared neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor, its action at neurotensin receptors and its analgesic, pancreatic and splanchnic effects are from the reviews and studies carded here; the absence of US approval and of a drug substance record from Drugs@FDA, openFDA, FDA GSRS and ChEMBL was checked the same day. Grey Peptides sells nothing and links to no vendor.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and nothing here is an instruction to obtain or use any compound. Talk to a licensed clinician about your own situation.