Research use only — not for human or veterinary use
AOD9604 For Sale — Research Vials of the Modified hGH 176-191 Fragment
AOD9604 is a synthetic analog of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone spanning residues 176 to 191, modified by the addition of a tyrosine at the N-terminus. That single modification is the difference between AOD9604 and the plain hGH fragment 176-191, and it exists to stabilise the molecule. The fragment is studied because it appears to retain the lipolytic activity associated with the parent hormone's C-terminal region while lacking the growth-promoting and glucose-related activity attributed to the intact 191-residue protein. Supplied as a lyophilized research vial for in vitro laboratory use only — not for human or veterinary use.
AOD9604 Research Vial
One lyophilized presentation. Because AOD9604 is frequently run alongside its unmodified counterpart, note that hGH fragment 176-191 is a distinct research article and the two should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Option | Format | Suited to | Product page |
|---|---|---|---|
| AOD9604 research vial | Lyophilized powder, single research vial | Adipocyte lipolysis models and hGH fragment comparison work | View AOD9604 research vial → |
What Is AOD9604?
Human growth hormone is a 191-residue protein with several functionally distinct regions. Work in the 1990s established that the lipolytic activity of the hormone could be localised to a short C-terminal stretch, and that a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 176-191 reproduced that activity in adipose tissue models without reproducing the hormone's growth-promoting effects.
AOD9604 is that fragment with an added N-terminal tyrosine residue. The tyrosine was introduced for stability and to facilitate radiolabelling in early tracer studies, and it is retained in the modern research article. This distinguishes AOD9604 from the plain hGH fragment 176-191 that is also sold as a research chemical; the sequences differ by one residue and their behaviour in analytical methods differs accordingly.
AOD9604 progressed further through formal development than most peptides in the research-chemical market, having been investigated clinically before development was discontinued. That history means the compound has a better-characterised safety and pharmacokinetic literature than most, which is useful context but does not change its status here as a laboratory research chemical.
Lipolytic Signalling in Adipocyte Models
The mechanistic literature centres on β3-adrenergic receptor pathways and on the regulation of lipolysis and lipogenesis in adipocyte culture. In vitro readouts are typically glycerol and free fatty acid release into the culture medium, along with expression of β3-adrenergic receptor and lipogenic enzyme transcripts.
Notably, AOD9604 does not appear to act through the growth hormone receptor itself, which is why growth-hormone-receptor-null models are a common control arm. If an effect persists in the absence of a functional GH receptor, that is evidence for a distinct pathway rather than residual parent-hormone activity.
A recurring methodological point is that lipolysis assays are highly sensitive to culture conditions — serum content, glucose concentration, and adipocyte differentiation state all shift baseline glycerol release substantially. Studies that do not report differentiation protocol in detail are difficult to compare against one another.
Research Applications
The dominant application is 3T3-L1 or primary adipocyte culture: differentiate the cells, apply the test article across a concentration range, and measure glycerol and free fatty acid release against vehicle and a reference lipolytic agent such as isoproterenol. AOD9604 is normally run alongside plain hGH fragment 176-191 to test whether the tyrosine modification alters activity.
A second cluster of work concerns cartilage and connective-tissue models, where AOD9604 has been investigated in combination with other agents. These are less numerous but represent an active line of enquiry distinct from the lipolysis literature.
Analytical laboratories use AOD9604 in method development for medium-sized peptides with tyrosine-containing sequences, where UV detection at 280 nm becomes practical and offers a useful cross-check against 214 nm peptide-bond detection.
- 3T3-L1 and primary adipocyte lipolysis assays
- Comparative work against unmodified hGH fragment 176-191
- Growth-hormone-receptor-null control models
- Dual-wavelength analytical method development
AOD9604 vs. hGH Fragment 176-191
The two are frequently conflated in supplier catalogues, which is a problem for reproducibility. AOD9604 carries an N-terminal tyrosine; the plain fragment does not. That single residue changes molecular weight by roughly 163 daltons, shifts retention time on a reverse-phase column, and adds a strong 280 nm chromophore that the plain fragment lacks.
For assay purposes the practical consequence is that a mass-spectrometry identity check distinguishes them trivially, but a purity-only certificate does not. Any laboratory buying either compound should confirm which one arrived by checking the certificate's mass data rather than the product name.
In terms of reported activity the two are broadly similar in lipolysis models, which is precisely why running both arms is informative: a difference in outcome implicates the modification, and no difference supports treating published results on one as applicable to the other.
Storage and Reconstitution
Store sealed vials frozen, protected from light and moisture, and equilibrate to room temperature before opening. AOD9604 is a mid-sized peptide with unremarkable handling requirements, but the lyophilized cake is hygroscopic like any other and will dissolve unevenly if condensation has reached it.
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water added down the vial wall, swirling gently until clear. Avoid shaking; the peptide foams readily enough that vigorous agitation will strand material at the surface. The resulting solution should be clear and colourless.
Refrigerate reconstituted material at 2–8 °C, label with the reconstitution date, and aliquot where a study has multiple time points. For lipolysis assays in particular, prepare fresh working dilutions on the day of the experiment, since the assay's sensitivity to condition drift makes stale dilutions a genuine source of variance.
Material Specifications
- Compound
- AOD9604 (Tyr-hGH 177-191)
- Parent region
- C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone, residues 176-191
- Modification
- N-terminal tyrosine addition for stability
- Molar mass
- ≈ 1,815 g/mol
- Appearance
- White lyophilized powder
- Purity
- ≥ 99% by reverse-phase HPLC
- Storage
- Sealed vials frozen; reconstituted 2–8 °C
- Use
- In vitro laboratory research only
Purity, Testing & Certificates of Analysis
AOD9604 is released against reverse-phase HPLC purity criteria with mass-spectrometry identity confirmation. Identity confirmation is emphasised for this compound in particular because AOD9604 and unmodified hGH fragment 176-191 differ by a single tyrosine residue and are routinely conflated in the wider market.
Because the added tyrosine provides a 280 nm chromophore that the unmodified fragment lacks, our release chromatography records both 214 nm and 280 nm traces, giving an independent confirmation that the correct analog is present.
Each shipment references a dated, lot-specific Certificate of Analysis recording purity, identity, water content, appearance and assay date; certificates remain retrievable after purchase and the full library is published.
Research FAQ
What is AOD9604?
AOD9604 is a synthetic analog of the C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone covering residues 176 to 191, with an added N-terminal tyrosine for stability. It is studied in laboratory lipolysis models because it appears to retain the fragment's lipolytic activity without the growth-promoting activity of the intact hormone.
How does AOD9604 differ from hGH fragment 176-191?
By one residue: AOD9604 carries an N-terminal tyrosine that the plain fragment lacks. That adds roughly 163 daltons, shifts reverse-phase retention time, and introduces a 280 nm chromophore. The two are frequently conflated in supplier catalogues, so identity should be confirmed from certificate mass data rather than the product name.
What is AOD9604 used for in research?
Primarily adipocyte lipolysis assays in 3T3-L1 or primary cultures, reading glycerol and free fatty acid release against vehicle and a reference lipolytic agent. It is also used in growth-hormone-receptor-null control models and in analytical method development. It is not supplied for human or veterinary use.
Does AOD9604 act through the growth hormone receptor?
Published work indicates it does not act primarily through the growth hormone receptor, which is why GH-receptor-null models are a standard control arm. An effect that persists in the absence of a functional GH receptor supports a distinct pathway rather than residual parent-hormone activity.
What purity is your AOD9604?
AOD9604 is released at ≥99% chromatographic purity by reverse-phase HPLC with mass-spectrometry identity confirmation, and release chromatography records both 214 nm and 280 nm traces so that the presence of the tyrosine-containing analog is independently confirmed.
How should AOD9604 be stored?
Keep sealed vials frozen and protected from light and moisture, equilibrating to room temperature before opening. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, store at 2–8 °C, date the vial, and prepare fresh working dilutions on the day of a lipolysis experiment to limit condition-drift variance.
Was AOD9604 ever studied clinically?
It progressed further through formal development than most research peptides before development was discontinued, which means its pharmacokinetic literature is better characterised than average. That history is useful context but does not change its status here: it is supplied strictly as a laboratory research chemical.
Where do AOD9604 orders ship from?
All orders are fulfilled from our Jacksonville, Florida facility with same-business-day dispatch before the daily cut-off. Domestic transit is typically one to two business days and packaging is matched to the expected transit profile for a lyophilized peptide.
Research Resources
All products listed are supplied strictly for in vitro laboratory research by qualified professionals. Not for human or veterinary use. We do not provide dosing guidance or therapeutic recommendations, and nothing on this page describes a diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any condition.