This is a working overview of IGF-1, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
This page was last updated on 2026-01-27 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
Clinical development of AOD-9604 included trials in people with obesity. Reports from early-phase and mid-phase studies described modest or inconsistent changes in body weight. A phase IIb program did not meet its primary endpoint, and the compound was not approved for medical use. Differences in formulation, delivery route, and participant characteristics may explain some of the variation. Later investigations explored whether the peptide might have effects in other tissues, including cartilage.
Regulatory treatment of AOD-9604 is shaped by its classification as a peptide hormone. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists it as a prohibited substance, and many national anti-doping organizations adopt that list. It does not hold approval as a prescription medicine in the United States, the European Union, or other major markets. Products sold online are frequently labeled for research use only and may not undergo independent quality testing. Import and possession rules differ by country, so legal status depends on local law.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide that corresponds to a short section of human growth hormone. It is commonly identified as hGH fragment 176-191 because its sequence matches residues at the C-terminal end of the hormone. The molecule contains sixteen amino acids and is made by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Researchers study it for metabolic effects rather than for the growth-promoting actions associated with full human growth hormone. Its small size distinguishes it from the complete 191-amino-acid hormone.
Several names appear in scientific and commercial settings. AOD9604 and AOD-9604 are development codes used interchangeably, while hGH fragment 176-191 describes the same region. The peptide includes a disulfide bond between two cysteine residues, which helps shape its three-dimensional structure. Different suppliers may provide acetate or other salt forms, and purity can vary. These differences matter because analytical tests and biological assays can respond to the specific form being studied.
Early interest in AOD-9604 centered on whether a fragment of human growth hormone could influence fat metabolism without the broader effects of the full hormone. Cell and animal studies reported changes in fat storage and breakdown. Human trials followed, but the results were not strong enough to secure regulatory approval. The compound remains available for laboratory research, and its clinical potential is still described as uncertain. Studies continue to examine its activity and safety profile.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical storage temperature | -20 °C | Lyophilized peptide; protect from moisture and light. |
| Typical analytical method | HPLC and mass spectrometry | Used to confirm identity and estimate purity. |
| Common synonyms | AOD9604; hGH 176-191 | Naming varies by supplier and publication. |
| Disulfide bonds | One | Affects folded structure and stability. |
| Typical research purity | ≥95% | Value depends on supplier and analytical method. |
AOD-9604 is listed as a prohibited substance in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It falls under the peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics class on the prohibited list. Anti-doping organizations treat its presence in an athlete's sample as an adverse finding unless a therapeutic use exemption applies. The prohibition reflects concerns about performance enhancement in competitive settings and the difficulty of distinguishing exogenous peptide use from endogenous hormone fragments.
Detection of AOD-9604 in biological samples relies on analytical techniques capable of distinguishing a small synthetic peptide from related endogenous sequences. Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry is commonly used for confirmatory analysis. Sample preparation may involve immunoaffinity enrichment or solid-phase extraction to concentrate the peptide. Because the molecule is small and may be present at low concentrations, assay sensitivity and specificity are ongoing analytical challenges. Laboratories also validate methods against reference materials when available.
Regulatory interest in AOD-9604 increased after high-profile anti-doping cases involving peptide products. In some cases, the substance was supplied under alternative names or in compounded preparations, complicating traceability. Sports tribunals and anti-doping panels have discussed whether the peptide was explicitly banned at the time of use, leading to clarifications by the World Anti-Doping Agency. For consumers and researchers, the legal status can vary by jurisdiction, and products marketed as research chemicals may lack independent quality verification.
AOD-9604 has been investigated mainly in the context of body fat and metabolic endpoints. Some early animal and small human studies reported changes in fat mass or lipid markers, but findings were not uniform. Larger, well-controlled trials that would establish efficacy are lacking in the public literature. As a result, claims about weight loss or metabolic benefit remain investigational rather than established. The distinction between a research finding and a proven clinical outcome is central to discussing this peptide.
Regulatory bodies have taken different approaches to AOD-9604. It is not approved as a prescription medicine by major agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency. In sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances, and AOD-9604 has been treated as a prohibited substance. These regulatory decisions reflect concerns about safety, efficacy, and potential misuse rather than proof of benefit.
=== Other groups === Other groups include aquatic reptiles, amphibians, and miscellaneous invertebrates, such as echinoderms and jellyfish. They are separately graphed at the top right of this section, since they do not contribute enough volume to show clearly on the main graph. Commercially harvested echinoderms include sea cucumbers and sea urchins. In China, sea cucumbers are farmed in artificial ponds as large as 400 hectares (1,000 acres).
In contrast, the French financial system was inadequate and Napoleon's forces had to rely in part on requisitions from conquered lands. From London in 1813 to 1815, Nathan Mayer Rothschild was crucial in almost single-handedly financing the British war effort, organising the shipment of bullion to the Duke of Wellington's armies across Europe, as well as arranging the payment of British financial subsidies to their continental allies.
==== MeSH D06.472.931 – thyroid hormones ==== MeSH D06.472.931.103 – dextrothyroxine MeSH D06.472.931.208 – diiodotyrosine MeSH D06.472.931.388 – monoiodotyrosine MeSH D06.472.931.669 – thyroid gland, desiccated MeSH D06.472.931.740 – thyronines MeSH D06.472.931.740.180 – diiodothyronines MeSH D06.472.931.740.385 – triiodothyronine MeSH D06.472.931.740.590 – triiodothyronine, reverse MeSH D06.472.931.812 – thyroxine
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Medical uses == Penbutolol is used to treat mild to moderate high blood pressure. Like other beta blockers it is not a first line treatment for this indication. It should not be used or only used with caution in people with heart failure and people with asthma. It may mask signs of low blood sugar in people with diabetes and it may mask signs of hyperthyroidism. Animal studies showed some signs of potential trouble for women who are pregnant, and it has not been tested in women who are pregnant. It is not known if penbutolol is secreted in breast milk.
For example, before combat missions Fallschirmjäger soldiers received the "Combat Ration for Paratroopers", which contained tins of cheese and ham, an energy bar, crispbread, candy drops, powdered milk, and instant coffee. The standard Schutzstaffel (SS) ration, designed to last for four days, consisted of 25 ounces (710 g) of Graubrot, 6–10 ounces (170–280 g) of canned meat (sometimes in the form of sausage), five ounces (140 g) of vegetables, one-half ounce (14 g) of butter, margarine, jam, or hazelnut paste, coffee, and six cigarettes (despite the SS's strong anti-smoking stance). Some other special supplements were given, including leberwurst. Regions invaded and occupied by Nazi forces were stripped of their food to feed Germans and starve local populations. As a result, soldiers could eat a variety of foods depending on availability. When in static positions German soldiers could eat well while rationing for frontline soldiers was sometimes hampered by supply issues. For example, a German soldier who fought in Crimea, which presented a logistical challenge due to a long and vulnerable land route, described the food he and his comrades received during this period as consisting of one warm meal a day, typically cabbage soup with a piece of tomato, with the addition of half a loaf of bread, some fat, cheese, and hard honey every second day. However, when the same soldier was billeted in a Russian village, he described the food as including a midday meal of borscht with bread and a large evening meal of potatoes, other vegetables, eggs, and meat.
Upon addition of surfactants or inorganic salts to a droplet-based microfluidic system, the interfacial tension of individual droplets alters within the microfluidic system. These separatory components allow for the utilization of the droplets as microreactors for various procedural mechanisms. In order to describe the relationship between interfacial tension (), concentration of dissociated surfactants/salts in the bulk droplet (C), Temperature (T), the Boltzmann constant (kB), and the concentration of dissociated surfactants/salts at the interface (Γ), the Gibbs adsorption isotherm was created, a simplified section highlighting relevant information displayed to the right. This isotherm reaffirms the notion that while the inorganic salt concentration increases, salts are depleted from the droplet interface (Γ<0), and the interface tension of the droplet increases. This is contrasted by surfactants, which adsorb at the interface (Γ>0), and lower interfacial tension . At low surfactant concentrations, surface tension decreases according to the Gibbs adsorption isotherm, until a certain concentration is reached, known as the critical micelle concentration (CMC), when micelles begin to form. Upon reaching the CMC, the dissolved surfactant concentration reaches a maximum, where the surfactant monomers will aggregate to form nanometer sized micelles. Due to this potential for micelle formation, three steps can be utilized when analyzing the adsorption of the surfactants to the droplet's interface.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Structure == The human epididymis is situated posterior and somewhat lateral to the testis. The epididymis is invested completely by the tunica vaginalis (which is continuous with the tunica vaginalis covering the testis). The epididymis can be divided into three main regions:
==== ADHD ==== Long-term amphetamine exposure at sufficiently high doses in some animal species is known to produce abnormal dopamine system development or nerve damage, but, in humans with ADHD, long-term use of pharmaceutical amphetamines at therapeutic doses appears to improve brain development and nerve growth. Reviews of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest that long-term treatment with amphetamine decreases abnormalities in brain structure and function found in subjects with ADHD, and improves function in several parts of the brain, such as the right caudate nucleus of the basal ganglia. Reviews of clinical stimulant research have established the safety and effectiveness of long-term continuous amphetamine use for the treatment of ADHD. Randomized controlled trials of continuous stimulant therapy for the treatment of ADHD spanning 2 years have demonstrated treatment effectiveness and safety. Two reviews have indicated that long-term continuous stimulant therapy for ADHD is effective for reducing the core symptoms of ADHD (i.e., hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity), enhancing quality of life and academic achievement, and producing improvements in a large number of functional outcomes across 9 categories of outcomes related to academics, antisocial behavior, driving, non-medicinal drug use, obesity, occupation, self-esteem, service use (i.e., academic, occupational, health, financial, and legal services), and social function.
The Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by ACS Publications since 2020. From 2011 to 2019 it was published by Springer Science+Business Media and prior to that by Elsevier. It is the official publication of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry and freely available to members. The journal covers all aspects of mass spectrometry. Until 2015, Michael L. Gross (Washington University in St. Louis) was the founding editor-in-chief; he was succeeded by Joseph A. Loo (University of California, Los Angeles). The journal is abstracted and indexed in MEDLINE.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
No. Major drug regulators have not approved AOD-9604 for weight loss or any other therapeutic indication. It remains an investigational compound studied in research settings.
The World Anti-Doping Agency classifies it as a prohibited peptide hormone. Athletes under anti-doping rules are not permitted to use it. Its presence can trigger a doping violation.
It is a fragment of growth hormone rather than a substance that signals the pituitary to release more hormone. Studies have not shown a consistent rise in IGF-1 or full growth hormone. Its metabolic effects, if any, appear separate from those of the complete hormone.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide fragment of human growth hormone. It corresponds to the C-terminal region known as hGH 176-191 and is studied for metabolic effects. It is not an approved therapeutic drug.