Oral GHRP-2 Releases GH in Adult Goats: The Peptide Survives Digestion and Works Through the Intestine
Oral GHRP-2 successfully stimulated GH release in adult goats, with absorption occurring in the intestines after bypassing the rumen, demonstrating oral peptide viability in large adult animals.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Oral GHRP-2 stimulated GH release in adult goats when absorbed through the intestines (not rumen), demonstrating post-gastric oral peptide bioactivity in adult large animals with mature digestive systems.
Key Numbers
How They Did This
Animal study in adult goats. GHRP-2 administered orally, directly into the rumen, or into the intestines via fistulae. Plasma GH measured after each route to determine absorption site.
Why This Research Matters
Oral peptide delivery is the holy grail of peptide therapeutics. Showing it works in adult goats with complex digestive systems brings oral peptide drugs closer to practical reality.
The Bigger Picture
The barrier to oral peptide therapy is digestive destruction. This study shows peptides can survive transit through the stomach and be absorbed in the intestine, even in adult animals — supporting the development of oral peptide drugs for humans.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Goat ruminant digestive system differs from human. High doses still required. Oral bioavailability as a percentage was not precisely quantified.
Questions This Raises
- ?Can enteric coating protect peptides through the stomach for intestinal absorption?
- ?What fraction of oral GHRP-2 reaches the intestinal absorption site intact?
- ?Does this translate to human oral peptide delivery?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Intestinal absorption GHRP-2 works orally in adult goats by surviving to the intestines for absorption — the rumen alone can't absorb it
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary animal evidence with clever route-of-absorption experiments in adult large animals, though limited in translatability to humans.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2001. Oral peptide delivery technology has advanced significantly, with enteric-coated and absorption-enhanced peptide formulations now in clinical development.
- Original Title:
- Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses after administration of the peptidergic GH secretagogue KP102 into the oral cavity, rumen, abomasum and duodenum in adult goats.
- Published In:
- Domestic animal endocrinology, 20(1), 37-46 (2001)
- Authors:
- Hashizume, T(2), Tanabe, Y, Ohtsuki, K(2), Mori, A, Matsumoto, N, Hara, S
- Database ID:
- RPEP-00667
Evidence Hierarchy
Tests effects in animals (usually mice or rats), not humans.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can peptide drugs work when swallowed?
This study proves they can — at least in goats. GHRP-2 survived digestion and was absorbed through the intestinal wall, releasing growth hormone. The key is getting the peptide past the stomach to the intestines intact.
How does this help humans?
If peptides can survive digestion in goats (which have an even more challenging digestive system than humans), it suggests oral peptide drugs for humans are achievable with the right protective formulation.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-00667APA
Hashizume, T; Tanabe, Y; Ohtsuki, K; Mori, A; Matsumoto, N; Hara, S. (2001). Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses after administration of the peptidergic GH secretagogue KP102 into the oral cavity, rumen, abomasum and duodenum in adult goats.. Domestic animal endocrinology, 20(1), 37-46.
MLA
Hashizume, T, et al. "Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses after administration of the peptidergic GH secretagogue KP102 into the oral cavity, rumen, abomasum and duodenum in adult goats.." Domestic animal endocrinology, 2001.
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Plasma growth hormone (GH) responses after administration of..." RPEP-00667. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/hashizume-2001-plasma-growth-hormone-gh
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.