Function
While Sermorelin is used as a diagnostic agent for assessing GH secretory capacity and as a research tool or off-label therapy to increase endogenous GH in GH-deficient or age-related contexts1727, SS-31 improves mitochondrial bioenergetics, reduces oxidative stress, and shows protective effects in models of ischemia-reperfusion, neurodegeneration, and other mitochondrial disorders4637137.
Mechanism
While Sermorelin works as a synthetic 29-amino-acid peptide identical to the 1–29 N-terminal fragment of human GHRH that stimulates GH synthesis and secretion by binding pituitary GHRH receptors1727120, SS-31 is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide, d-Arg-dimethylTyr-Lys-Phe-NH2, that selectively binds cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, stabilizing cristae structure, improving electron transport, and reducing ROS production4637137143.