1. Muscle Preservation
Hexarelin stimulates the release of growth hormone, which in turn promotes protein synthesis, reduces muscle breakdown, and causes cells to differentiate and proliferate. Literature shows that hexarelin can preserve muscle mass.
In one study, researchers induced cachexia (muscle loss) in rats using cisplatin. The rats were divided into two groups: one received a placebo (the control group), while the other group was treated with hexarelin. The results indicated that the control group experienced mitochondrial dysfunction and muscle atrophy. On the other hand, the treatment group showed resistance to muscle loss and maintained muscle strength. Furthermore, it was suggested that the improved mitochondrial function and reduced inflammatory processes contributed to this effect of hexarelin [1].
2. Weight Loss
Hexarelin has been shown to improve fat metabolism via its action at the CD36 receptor. A study was conducted to check the impact of hexarelin on body weight in nonobese insulin-resistant MKR mice and its corresponding wild-type FVB mice. The subjects were randomized to receive peritoneal injection of hexarelin or placebo two times a day for 12 days, Researchers found that hexarelin decreased liver and plasma triglyceride levels. Further, it also improved glucose levels and insulin tolerance. Additionally, the study found that hexarelin achieved this effect by improving lipid metabolism and increasing the adipocyte differentiation of white adipose tissues. These findings indicate that hexarelin might prove to be effective in treating lipid disorders [2].
3. Cardioprotection
Scientific literature shows that hexarelin has the potential to prevent cardiac remodeling and myocardial infarction. One study examined the cardioprotective effect of hexarelin in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Subjects aged 16 weeks were treated with either hexarelin alone or the combination of hexarelin and GHS-R antagonist for 5 weeks. The results found that hexarelin reduced cardiac fibrosis through decreasing myocardial collagen deposition and myocardial hydroxyproline content. It also suppressed the expression of collagen I and III and accelerated the degradation of collagen through the regulation of metalloproteinase II. Additionally, it relieved left ventricular hypertrophy, reduced high blood pressure, and improved left ventricular function [3].
Another study was conducted to examine the cardioprotective of hexarelin in rats. In this research, radioactive hexarelin was used to label the cardiac membrane of the rats. The researchers isolated a binding protein of Mr 84 000 similar to rat CD36. They found that activation of CD36 by hexarelin led to a dose-dependent increase in coronary perfusion pressure. On the other hand, this effect was absent in mice lacking the binding protein, suggesting that CD36 may play a role in inducing coronary vasospasm in conditions like atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia [4].
One more study investigated the mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective effect of hexarelin. Researchers induced heart failure resulting from myocardial infarction in rats by permanently ligating the coronary artery. These rats were either given a placebo or received 100ug/kg of hexarelin twice a day for 30 days. Hexarelin enhanced contractile function, reduced oxidative stress, fibrosis, apoptosis, and decreased histopathological damage. These positive effects were attributed to the up-regulation of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) and an increase in serum nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, suggesting that eNOS could be a potential therapeutic target for addressing heart failure [5]./p>
Furthermore, hexarelin can also prevent myocardial damage induced by diabetes. One study in a rat model of diabetes found that hexarelin can reverse the negative changes associated with action potential duration, cell contraction and potassium currents. Further, it was also shown to reduce apoptotic signals and enhance GHS receptor expression [6].
