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Growth Factor

IGF-1 (IGtropin) Guide & Tableau de Dose

Recombinant insulin-like growth factor-1.

Également appeléIGF-1
Voiesubcutaneous
IGF-1 (IGtropin) — Tableau de dose
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Les données de dose sourcées de ce composé sont en cours de compilation.
À des fins de recherche et d'éducation uniquement. Pas un avis médical.

What is IGF-1 (IGtropin)?

IGF-1 stands for Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1. IGtropin is a recombinant (lab-made) version of this naturally occurring protein. Your body already produces IGF-1 — mainly in the liver — in response to growth hormone signals. Think of growth hormone as the spark plug and IGF-1 as the actual engine that drives cell growth and repair throughout the body.

Because IGF-1 touches so many biological systems — muscle, bone, metabolism, the cardiovascular system, and more — researchers around the world study it intensively. It is classified as a growth factor and is strictly a research-use-only compound. It is not approved as a treatment for healthy individuals, and nothing on this page should be read as medical advice.

How IGF-1 (IGtropin) Works

Here's a simple way to picture it: your cells have tiny locks on their surface called receptors. IGF-1 is a key that fits those locks. When it binds, it switches on internal signalling chains — most notably the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and the Raf/MAPK pathway. These chains tell cells to grow, divide, and survive rather than shut down.

Because these same pathways control how cells use glucose for energy, IGF-1 is deeply tied to metabolism as well.[1] In muscle tissue specifically, IGF-1 acts as one of the key hormonal messengers that encourages muscle fibres to get bigger — a process called hypertrophy.[2] In other tissues, IGF-1 availability is tightly regulated by proteins called IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which act like a storage system, releasing IGF-1 only when and where it is needed.[4]

What the Research Shows

Muscle Growth and Body Composition

Research has confirmed that IGF-1, along with growth hormone and testosterone, is one of the key hormones involved in building muscle mass. Studies note that supraphysiological (above-normal) levels of IGF-1 and related hormones can drive significant muscle hypertrophy, which is why these compounds have attracted interest — and misuse — in athletic communities.[2]

Metabolism and Glucose Use

IGF-1 shares structural similarities with insulin, and scientists have found it plays a real role in how cells take up and use glucose. Research into colorectal cancer has shown that IGF-1 signalling can activate glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes, effectively telling cancer cells to consume more sugar — a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect.[1] Understanding this link may open doors to new metabolic therapies.

Hair Follicle Biology

Researchers studying androgenetic alopecia (common pattern hair loss) found that IGF-1 supports the growth of hair follicle cells. In affected patients, a micro-RNA called miR-221 suppresses IGF-1 expression, leading to weaker follicles and hair loss. Restoring IGF-1 signalling in these cells reactivated key growth pathways.[3]

Kidney Disease

In models of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), scientists found that an enzyme called PAPP-A ramps up IGF-1 activity in the kidneys, driving cyst growth. Blocking PAPP-A — and therefore reducing local IGF-1 activity — significantly slowed disease progression. This shows that IGF-1 signalling can be harmful when overactivated in the wrong tissue.[4]

Cardiovascular Health

The heart and blood vessels are heavily influenced by IGF-1. Research suggests that physiological IGF-1 levels may have protective effects against atherosclerosis (artery hardening), acting on endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and immune cells in the artery wall. Low circulating IGF-1 has been associated with higher cardiovascular risk in clinical studies.[6]

Cancer Biology

IGF-1 is not simply beneficial or harmful — context matters enormously. A 2025 organoid study of small cell lung cancer found that certain tumour subtypes are heavily dependent on IGF-1 signalling via a YAP-AP1 axis, making IGF-1 pathway inhibition a potential therapeutic target for those specific cancer subtypes.[5] This highlights why understanding where and when IGF-1 is active is so important in research.

What IGF-1 (IGtropin) Is Being Studied For

  • Skeletal muscle hypertrophy and recovery mechanisms[2]
  • Metabolic diseases and glucose regulation[1]
  • Hair follicle regeneration and alopecia models[3]
  • Polycystic kidney disease pathways[4]
  • Cardiovascular and atheroprotective mechanisms[6]
  • Cancer subtype biology and targeted oncology[5]

How IGF-1 (IGtropin) Is Dosed in Research

Dosing protocols for IGF-1 in a research context vary widely depending on the model, the research goal, and the administration route being studied. Because there is no single universal protocol, researchers are encouraged to consult the dosage chart on this page for a structured reference overview, and to use the on-page calculator to work through weight-based or concentration-based calculations relevant to their study design. Always cross-reference with current peer-reviewed literature before designing any research protocol.

Mixing and Storing IGF-1 (IGtropin)

IGF-1 (IGtropin) typically arrives as a lyophilised (freeze-dried) white powder. To reconstitute it, researchers generally add bacteriostatic water slowly down the side of the vial — never directly onto the powder — and swirl gently rather than shaking to avoid denaturing (breaking) the fragile protein structure. The resulting solution is usually stored at 2–8 °C (refrigerated) and should be used within a recommended window, commonly cited as 4–6 weeks once reconstituted, though this can vary by manufacturer specification. Unused reconstituted solution should never be frozen repeatedly, as freeze-thaw cycles degrade peptide integrity. Always record reconstitution date and concentration on the vial label for accurate research records.

Sources

  1. Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Signaling in Glucose Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer. — International journal of molecular sciences, 2021. PMID 34208601.
  2. The role of hormones in muscle hypertrophy. — The Physician and sportsmedicine, 2018. PMID 29172848.
  3. The AR/miR-221/IGF-1 pathway mediates the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia. — International journal of biological sciences, 2023. PMID 37496996.
  4. Metalloproteinase PAPP-A regulation of IGF-1 contributes to polycystic kidney disease pathogenesis. — JCI insight, 2020. PMID 31990681.
  5. An organoid library unveils subtype-specific IGF-1 dependency via a YAP-AP1 axis in human small cell lung cancer. — Nature cancer, 2025. PMID 40307487.
  6. IGF-1 and cardiovascular disease. — Growth hormone & IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society, 2019. PMID 30735831.

IGF-1 (IGtropin) FAQ

What is IGF-1 (IGtropin)?
IGF-1 (IGtropin) is a recombinant (lab-produced) form of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, a naturally occurring protein your liver makes in response to growth hormone. It activates cell growth and survival pathways throughout the body and is widely studied for its roles in muscle biology, metabolism, and cardiovascular health.[2][6] It is a research-use-only compound — not a medication or supplement.
How does IGF-1 (IGtropin) work?
IGF-1 binds to receptors on cell surfaces and switches on two major internal signalling chains: the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and the Raf/MAPK pathway. These instruct cells to grow, divide, and use glucose for energy.[1] In muscle tissue, this promotes hypertrophy; in other tissues, the effect depends heavily on local context and binding-protein regulation.[2][4]
What is IGF-1 (IGtropin) used for in research?
Scientists study IGF-1 across many fields: muscle hypertrophy mechanisms[2], glucose metabolism and cancer biology[1][5], hair follicle regeneration in alopecia models[3], polycystic kidney disease[4], and cardiovascular protection against atherosclerosis.[6] Its broad reach across biological systems makes it one of the most widely investigated growth factors in preclinical research.
How is IGF-1 (IGtropin) dosed in research?
Research dosing varies by study model, species, and scientific goal — there is no single standard protocol. This page includes a dosage chart summarising reference ranges used in published studies, along with a calculator to assist with concentration and weight-based calculations. Researchers should always cross-reference primary literature before designing a protocol.
How do you reconstitute IGF-1 (IGtropin)?
Add bacteriostatic water slowly down the inner wall of the vial — never directly onto the powder. Swirl gently; never shake. This protects the delicate protein structure. Store the reconstituted solution refrigerated at 2–8 °C and use within the manufacturer's recommended window (typically 4–6 weeks). Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which degrade peptide quality.
Is IGF-1 (IGtropin) safe?
IGF-1 is a potent signalling molecule with wide-ranging effects. Research shows it can be protective in some contexts — for example, in cardiovascular biology[6] — but harmful when overactivated in others, such as promoting cyst growth in kidney disease[4] or supporting certain tumour subtypes.[5] It is a research-only compound; safety data in healthy humans at supraphysiological doses is limited and potential risks are significant.