AOD-9604 2mg For Sale
AOD-9604 2mg is a synthetic research peptide derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone (hGH). It contains a modified sequence related to hGH residues 177–191, with an additional tyrosine residue at the N-terminus. Researchers primarily study AOD-9604 in laboratory models involving lipid metabolism, fat oxidation, lipolysis, growth hormone signaling, and cartilage biology. Researchers can
buy AOD-9604 2mg from Orion Peptides for qualified laboratory and analytical research. Each vial contains lyophilized research material intended strictly for research purposes. AOD-9604 is particularly interesting because early experimental studies found metabolic activity without the same interaction with the full growth hormone receptor observed with intact hGH. However, findings vary between experimental models, and AOD-9604 remains an investigational research compound.
What Is AOD-9604?
AOD-9604 is a synthetic 16-amino-acid peptide derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. It is commonly described as
Tyr-hGH(177–191) because it contains the sequence corresponding to residues 177–191 of human growth hormone with an additional tyrosine residue at its N-terminus. The peptide was originally developed to investigate whether the lipid-related activity of growth hormone could be separated from its wider growth-promoting actions. Early animal studies therefore focused heavily on:
- Lipid metabolism
- Lipolysis
- Fat oxidation
- Energy metabolism
- Growth hormone receptor interactions
- Insulin-related metabolic responses
Later research expanded into peptide metabolism and cartilage-related experimental models.
AOD-9604 Sequence and Structure
AOD-9604 is a 16-amino-acid peptide.
Sequence: Tyr-Leu-Arg-Ile-Val-Gln-Cys-Arg-Ser-Val-Glu-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gly-Phe The one-letter sequence is:
YLRIVQCRSVEGSCGF Two cysteine residues within the molecule form an intramolecular disulfide bridge. PubChem identifies the disulfide linkage between the cysteine residues at positions 7 and 14 of the AOD-9604 sequence.
Molecular Properties
| Property | AOD-9604 |
| Compound | AOD-9604 |
| Quantity | 2 mg |
| Sequence | YLRIVQCRSVEGSCGF |
| Number of amino acids | 16 |
| Molecular formula | C78H123N23O23S2 |
| Molecular weight | Approximately 1815.1 g/mol |
| Structural feature | Intramolecular disulfide bridge |
| Research classification | Synthetic peptide |
| Intended use | Laboratory research only |
PubChem lists AOD-9604 with the molecular formula
C78H123N23O23S2 and a molecular weight of approximately
1815.1 g/mol.
AOD-9604 Mechanism of Action Research
The exact molecular mechanisms of AOD-9604 have not been completely defined. However, several experimental studies have examined its effects on lipid metabolism. One important study investigated AOD-9604 in obese and lean mice. Researchers found that chronic AOD-9604 exposure was associated with increased fat oxidation and increased plasma glycerol, which was used as an indicator of lipolysis. The same researchers tested whether these effects depended on the conventional human growth hormone receptor. AOD-9604 did
not compete with hGH for the growth hormone receptor and did not stimulate cell proliferation through that receptor in the experimental system. This is an important distinction between AOD-9604 and full-length growth hormone.
AOD-9604 and Lipolysis Research
Lipolysis refers to the breakdown of stored triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol. Much of the early research on AOD-9604 investigated whether a small region of growth hormone could reproduce some of the hormone’s lipid-related effects. In obese Zucker rats, researchers studied oral AOD-9604 exposure over 19 days. The study reported increased lipolytic activity in adipose tissue. The experimental animals also showed reduced body-weight gain compared with controls. Importantly, this was an
animal study, so these results should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalent effects outside that experimental model.
AOD-9604 and Fat Oxidation
Another animal study investigated AOD-9604 in obese and lean mice over 14 days. Researchers measured several metabolic variables, including:
- Fat oxidation
- Glucose oxidation
- Energy expenditure
- Plasma glycerol
- Glucose
- Insulin
- Body weight
AOD-9604 was associated with increased fat oxidation and increased plasma glycerol in obese mice. Unlike intact growth hormone, the researchers reported that AOD-9604 did not interact with the conventional hGH receptor in their experimental system. These results helped establish AOD-9604 as an experimental tool for examining whether specific metabolic actions of growth hormone could be separated from its broader receptor-mediated effects.
AOD-9604 and Beta-3 Adrenergic Research
The beta-3 adrenergic receptor is highly relevant to lipid metabolism in adipose tissue. A 2001 study investigated whether beta-3 adrenergic receptors were involved in the metabolic activity associated with AOD-9604. Researchers found that chronic treatment was associated with increased
beta-3 adrenergic receptor RNA expression in obese mice. They also studied genetically modified mice lacking the beta-3 adrenergic receptor. The results suggested that beta-3 receptor expression may contribute to changes in lipolytic sensitivity. However, the investigators specifically concluded that the effects of AOD-9604 were
not mediated directly through the beta-3 adrenergic receptor itself. This distinction is important because AOD-9604 is sometimes incorrectly described as simply being a beta-3 adrenergic receptor agonist. The published evidence supports a more complex relationship.
AOD-9604 and Growth Hormone Receptor Signaling
One of the most interesting research questions surrounding AOD-9604 is whether its activity depends on the traditional growth hormone receptor. Experimental evidence suggests that it does not behave like intact human growth hormone in this respect. Researchers using cells expressing the human growth hormone receptor found that AOD-9604 did not compete with hGH for receptor binding and did not induce the cell proliferation produced by intact hGH. This allows researchers to investigate metabolic effects associated with a fragment of growth hormone without assuming that the peptide reproduces the complete signaling profile of full-length hGH.
AOD-9604 and IGF-1 Research
Full-length growth hormone can affect the GH–IGF-1 signaling axis. AOD-9604 was specifically investigated as a smaller peptide that might produce different biological activity. Published clinical safety research reported no significant changes in circulating IGF-1 during the measured period after AOD-9604 administration compared with placebo. However, this should not be interpreted as proof that AOD-9604 has no endocrine activity under every experimental condition. Its molecular actions remain an area of research.
AOD-9604 Metabolism Research
AOD-9604 has also been studied from an analytical and peptide-metabolism perspective. A 2015 study by Cox et al. developed an analytical method for detecting AOD-9604 and investigated its metabolism after incubation in serum and urine. Researchers identified
six potential metabolites. One fragment containing the sequence
CRSVEGSCG demonstrated greater stability than the parent peptide and several other detected metabolites. This research makes AOD-9604 relevant for laboratory investigations involving:
- Peptide stability
- Peptide degradation
- Metabolite identification
- Mass-spectrometry analysis
- Analytical detection
- Biological sample analysis
AOD-9604 and Cartilage Research
AOD-9604 has also been investigated outside metabolic research. A 2015 study examined AOD-9604 in a
collagenase-induced knee osteoarthritis model in rabbits. Thirty-two rabbits were divided into experimental groups receiving saline, hyaluronic acid, AOD-9604, or a combination of AOD-9604 and hyaluronic acid. Researchers evaluated cartilage changes using morphological and histopathological measurements. The AOD-9604 groups showed differences in cartilage degeneration scores compared with the saline control, while the AOD-9604 plus hyaluronic acid group produced stronger results than either compound alone in that experimental model. These findings make AOD-9604 of interest for further
preclinical cartilage and extracellular-matrix research. They should not be interpreted as evidence of an established therapeutic application.
What Does Human Research on AOD-9604 Show?
AOD-9604 progressed into human clinical research during its earlier development as a potential metabolic compound. Published safety analyses describe several Phase I and Phase II studies. These investigations examined factors such as:
- Pharmacokinetics
- Laboratory measurements
- Glucose
- IGF-1
- Adverse events
- General tolerability
For example, one multiple-dose study included 36 participants, while another longer study included approximately 300 participants. Published safety analyses reported that AOD-9604 was generally tolerated under the conditions studied and did not produce significant changes in IGF-1 compared with placebo in the evaluated experiments. However, the clinical development program did
not establish AOD-9604 as an approved obesity treatment, and much of the strongest mechanistic evidence remains preclinical. For research purposes, it is therefore important to distinguish between laboratory findings, animal experiments, early clinical investigations, and established therapeutic evidence.
Key Areas of AOD-9604 Research
AOD-9604 remains useful as an experimental peptide across several research areas.
Lipid Metabolism
Animal models have investigated its effects on lipolysis, glycerol release, lipid metabolism, and adipose tissue.
Fat Oxidation
Experimental mouse research has examined changes in substrate oxidation and energy metabolism following AOD-9604 exposure.
Beta-Adrenergic Signaling
Research has examined relationships between AOD-9604 and beta-3 adrenergic receptor expression.
Growth Hormone Signaling
AOD-9604 has been used to investigate metabolic activity that appears to differ from conventional growth hormone receptor signaling.
Peptide Metabolism
Analytical research has identified potential AOD-9604 metabolites in biological matrices.
Cartilage Research
Preclinical rabbit models have investigated AOD-9604 in relation to cartilage degeneration and regeneration.
AOD-9604 2mg From Orion Peptides
Orion Peptides offers AOD-9604 2mg for laboratory research. The 2 mg format is suitable for researchers performing controlled analytical, biochemical, cellular, or other qualified laboratory investigations. Researchers can use the available batch documentation and
Certificate of Analysis (COA) to evaluate the characteristics of the supplied research material. Compound specifications such as purity should always be confirmed using the COA associated with the specific batch rather than assumed from general compound information.
Storage of AOD-9604
Proper laboratory storage is important for maintaining peptide integrity. Lyophilized AOD-9604 should be protected from excessive heat, light, and moisture. Storage requirements should follow the specifications provided with the individual batch and applicable laboratory protocols. Researchers working with prepared peptide solutions should use suitable laboratory handling procedures and minimize conditions that could promote peptide degradation, including unnecessary temperature cycling. Specific stability periods should not be assumed unless supported by validated stability data for the formulation being studied.
Research Limitations
Although AOD-9604 has been studied for more than two decades, several limitations should be considered when interpreting the literature. Many of its most detailed mechanistic findings come from rodent models. Effects observed in obese mice, knockout mice, rats, cultured cells, or rabbit cartilage models cannot automatically be generalized to other experimental systems. In addition, historical development of AOD-9604 as a metabolic drug did not result in an approved obesity treatment. AOD-9604 should therefore be treated as an investigational peptide whose molecular actions continue to require controlled research.
Research Use Only
AOD-9604 2mg supplied by Orion Peptides is intended strictly for laboratory and scientific research. It is not intended for human or veterinary use, consumption, diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic purposes. References
- Heffernan MA, Thorburn AW, Fam B, et al. Increase of fat oxidation and weight loss in obese mice caused by chronic treatment with human growth hormone or a modified C-terminal fragment. International Journal of Obesity. 2001;25(10):1442–1449. PMID: 11673763. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801740.
- Heffernan M, Summers RJ, Thorburn A, 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. 2001;142(12):5182–5189. PMID: 11713213. DOI: 10.1210/endo.142.12.8522.
- Ng FM, Sun J, Sharma L, Libinaka R, Jiang WJ, Gianello R. Metabolic studies of a synthetic lipolytic domain (AOD9604) of human growth hormone. Hormone Research. 2000;53(6):274–278. PMID: 11146367. DOI: 10.1159/000053183.
- Cox HD, Eichner D. Detection and in vitro metabolism of AOD9604. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2015;7(1):31–38. PMID: 25208511. DOI: 10.1002/dta.1715.
- Kwon DR, Park GY. Effect of intra-articular injection of AOD9604 with or without hyaluronic acid in rabbit osteoarthritis model. Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science. 2015;45(4):426–432. PMID: 26275694.
- Stier H, Vos E, Kenley DE. Safety and tolerability of the hexadecapeptide AOD9604 in humans. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2013.