Synthetic peptide AOD 9604 has been investigated for its potential in mitigating the storage of fat cells. Growth hormone (hGH) is the source of the peptide fragment AOD 9604. Studies suggest that it may support fat cell reduction by increasing fat oxidation and stimulating the breakdown of fat cells.
Peptides and Hormone Signaling
After almost 50 years without significant advancements, research in fat reduction is experiencing a rebirth. Recent decades have seen increased research into the hormonal signals regulating energy reserves. As a result, peptide hormones like leptin (which signals fullness) and ghrelin (which signals hunger) were first identified and studied.
These findings were celebrated briefly as major scientific advances. Scientists have been working behind the scenes studying peptide hormone communication and attempting to decipher the intricate brain circuitry that controls food intake.
AOD 9604 Peptide
The significance of growth hormone (GH) in controlling factors, including fat storage, is multifaceted. The four facets of GH’s weight management function are muscle development, fat metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and appetite control. The astute reader will immediately see similarities between these GH characteristics and those of incretins like GLP-1.
Studies suggest that GH may improve insulin sensitivity, allowing muscle cells to absorb glucose more efficiently and divert that glucose to fuel muscular growth rather than fat storage. This makes perfect sense since GH may also promote protein synthesis and lead to bone and muscle development.
The activation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and inhibiting lipoprotein lipase are two additional mechanisms by which GH has been hypothesized to promote lipolysis (the breakdown of stored fat). This tips the scales in favor catabolism over synthesis in adipose tissue (fat tissue).
Given its potential propensity to increase fatty acid oxidation, AOD 9604 may sometimes be called the “lipolytic fragment” of GH. It turns out that various parts of the GH peptide may serve various purposes, perhaps because of their varying receptor-binding capacities. It’s hardly surprising, given that similar compounds typically contain more than one binding domain and may serve more than one purpose.
By focusing on a specific region, off-target effects of GH may be minimized. As far as researchers can tell, AOD 9604 may solely increase fat burning and may not impact insulin resistance, IGF-1 levels, or skeletal and muscular development. This has been purported to aid in lowering the risk of unwanted effects from GH for an extended period.
As suggested by studies conducted on mice, AOD 9604 may significantly increase weight reduction compared to a placebo. However, there has been considerable inconsistency in clinical studies. When paired with a low-calorie diet and systematic activity, AOD 9604 appeared to generate little weight reduction in one study but considerable weight loss when no dietary adjustments were performed in the other.
Perhaps AOD 9604’s mechanism of action is at the root of this disparity in findings. Studies in mice suggested it seems to bind to beta(3)-adrenergic receptors, which may exhibit a wide range of variability. In obese mice, AOD 9604 has been hypothesized to boost this receptor’s levels and speed up fat burning.
However, AOD 9604 appeared to have little effect on lean mice’s beta(3)-adrenergic receptors. To untangle why these two experimental studies had such divergent outcomes, further study into whether or not these highly varied receptors are likewise altered by food choice and activity is required.
Finally, GH has been hypothesized to cause weight reduction by modifications to satiety. However, this is a complicated procedure, especially when GH is involved. The situation is convoluted since GH may have contradictory effects on hunger. How does a peptide manage double duty as an appetite stimulant and suppressant?
Studies have suggested that GH may influence hunger in at least four distinct ways: directly by binding to GH in the hypothalamus, indirectly by encouraging the release of insulin-like growth factor-1, and directly by increasing lipolysis. The significance of GH for AOD 9604 may potentially lie in this latter route.
The adipose tissue is the primary source of leptin, a hormone that sends fullness signals directly to the brain. Since AOD 9604 has been purported to aid in fat breakdown, it stands to reason that it may increase hunger. However, leptin is neither the sole nor the most powerful hormone adipose tissue produces.
Instead of a source of energy, fat should be seen as an endocrine organ. The hormones adiponectin, resistin, and leptin are all produced by adipose tissue. The major function of adiponectin is to promote glucose and free fatty acid transfer into muscle, liver, and fat cells; its concentration in the blood is several orders of magnitude greater than leptin’s.
Buy AOD 9604 from Bioetch Peptides if you are a scientist interested in further researching this compound.
References
[i] R. Zieba, “[Obesity: a review of currently used antiobesity drugs and new compounds in clinical development],” Postepy Hig. Med. Doswiadczalnej Online, vol. 61, pp. 612–626, Oct. 2007.
[ii] M. Heffernan et al., “The effects of human GH and its lipolytic fragment (AOD9604) on lipid metabolism following chronic treatment in obese mice and beta(3)-AR knock-out mice,” Endocrinology, vol. 142, no. 12, Art. no. 12, Dec. 2001, doi: 10.1210/endo.142.12.8522.
[iii] S. Al-Samerria and S. Radovick, “Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Targeting GH and IGF-1 in the Management of Obesity: Insights from the Interplay between These Hormones and Metabolism,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 24, no. 11, p. 9556, May 2023, doi: 10.3390/ijms24119556.
[iv] E. A. AL-Suhaimi and A. Shehzad, “Leptin, resistin and visfatin: the missing link between endocrine metabolic disorders and immunity,” Eur. J. Med. Res., vol. 18, no. 1, p. 12, May 2013, doi: 10.1186/2047-783X-18-12.
