SLU-PP-332 is a synthetic research compound — a pan-ERR agonist — that activates all three estrogen-related receptors (ERRα, ERRβ, ERRγ) inside cells. It was developed as a chemical tool to study exercise-like metabolic effects in laboratory and animal models. It is not approved for human use.[2]

How does SLU-PP-332 work?

SLU-PP-332 binds to ERR nuclear receptors, which act as master regulators of energy metabolism. When activated, these receptors switch on genes involved in fat burning, mitochondrial function, and cellular energy production — processes that normally ramp up during aerobic exercise. Researchers call this an exercise mimetic effect.[2]

What is SLU-PP-332 used for in research?

Preclinical studies are investigating SLU-PP-332 for metabolic syndrome, obesity, heart failure, and declining exercise capacity. In mouse models it has reduced fat mass, improved insulin sensitivity, enhanced exercise endurance, and protected the heart against pressure overload-induced failure.[1][2][3]

How is SLU-PP-332 dosed?

All dosing data come from preclinical animal studies — no human dosing protocols exist. Doses and routes of administration vary by study design and the model being used. See the dosage chart on this page for a summary of published research doses, and use the calculator to work out specific quantities for your preparation.

How do you reconstitute SLU-PP-332?

In research settings, SLU-PP-332 powder is typically dissolved first in DMSO, then diluted into an aqueous vehicle such as PBS or a PEG-based solution. Store reconstituted solutions at −20°C, protect from light, minimize freeze-thaw cycles, and always label vials clearly. Follow your institution's SOPs and the supplier's certificate of analysis.

Safety data for SLU-PP-332 in humans does not exist. Published studies are limited to cell cultures and animal models. Anti-doping researchers have flagged it as a compound with potential for misuse in sport due to its exercise-enhancing effects.[4] SLU-PP-332 is strictly a research-use-only compound and should not be used in or on humans outside of authorized research contexts.

SLU-PP-332 Dosage Chart, Protocol & Calculator

An ERR agonist researched for exercise-mimetic metabolic effects.

Objectif	Dose	Fréquence	Durée	Preuve	Source
Enhance exercise endurance / exercise mimetic (skeletal muscle)	30 mg	1x/day	per trial	Preclinical	PMID 36988910
Ameliorate heart failure / improve cardiac function (pressure overload model)	30 mg	1x/day	6 weeks	Preclinical	PMID 37961903
Reduce obesity / alleviate metabolic syndrome	30 mg	1x/day	per trial	Preclinical	PMID 37739806

What is SLU-PP-332?

SLU-PP-332 is a synthetic small molecule developed by researchers at Saint Louis University and partner institutions. It belongs to a class of compounds called pan-ERR agonists — meaning it activates all three subtypes of the estrogen-related receptors (ERRα, ERRβ, and ERRγ), with the strongest effect on ERRα.^[2]

ERRs are proteins inside cells — specifically a type called nuclear receptors — that act like master switches for energy metabolism. They are especially active in tissues that burn a lot of fuel, like muscle and heart tissue. SLU-PP-332 is not a hormone or a peptide in the traditional sense; it is a research chemical tool used in laboratory and animal studies to understand what happens when these metabolic switches are turned on pharmacologically.^[2]

Important note: SLU-PP-332 is a research-use-only compound. It has not been approved for human use by any regulatory agency, and nothing on this page constitutes medical advice.

How SLU-PP-332 Works

Think of exercise as a key that unlocks a whole program of genetic instructions inside your muscle cells — telling them to build more mitochondria (the tiny power plants inside cells), burn more fat, and become more efficient. SLU-PP-332 is being studied as a way to turn on many of those same genetic instructions without the physical activity itself. That is why researchers call it an exercise mimetic — a chemical that mimics exercise at the molecular level.^[1]

More specifically, when SLU-PP-332 binds to ERR receptors, it triggers a cascade of gene activity related to fatty acid oxidation (burning fat for fuel), mitochondrial biogenesis (building more power plants in cells), and cellular respiration (how efficiently cells use oxygen to make energy).^[2] Researchers found it activates what they describe as an "acute aerobic exercise genetic program" — essentially flipping on a large set of genes that would normally switch on during a cardio workout.^[2]

What the Research Shows

Multiple peer-reviewed studies have examined SLU-PP-332 in preclinical (cell and animal) models:

Exercise capacity and muscle fiber type: In mouse studies, SLU-PP-332 increased type IIa oxidative skeletal muscle fibers — the kind associated with endurance — and enhanced how long mice could exercise before exhaustion. This effect was dependent specifically on ERRα activation.^[2]
Metabolic syndrome and obesity: In diet-induced obese mice and ob/ob mice (a common obesity model), SLU-PP-332 increased energy expenditure and fatty acid oxidation, reduced fat mass accumulation, and improved insulin sensitivity — a cluster of benefits that mirrors what regular exercise provides.^[1]
Heart failure: A 2024 study published in Circulation found that both SLU-PP-332 and a related compound (SLU-PP-915) significantly improved ejection fraction (how well the heart pumps), reduced fibrosis (scarring), and increased survival in a mouse model of pressure overload-induced heart failure. The researchers identified ERRγ as the key mediator of these cardioprotective effects.^[3]
Structure-activity research: Scientists have conducted detailed chemical optimization of the SLU-PP-332 molecule, mapping exactly which parts of its structure drive ERRα vs. ERRγ activity. Some modified versions showed improved solubility and metabolic stability while retaining similar activity profiles.^[5]
Anti-doping research: Because SLU-PP-332 could theoretically enhance athletic performance, anti-doping researchers have characterized its metabolites — the breakdown products the body produces after processing the compound. In lab models using human liver preparations, nine metabolites were identified for SLU-PP-332 (six Phase-I and three Phase-II), providing tools to detect potential misuse in sport.^[4]^[6]

What SLU-PP-332 Is Being Studied For

Preclinical research is exploring SLU-PP-332 across several areas:

Metabolic syndrome and obesity — reducing fat mass and improving insulin sensitivity^[1]
Exercise capacity — enhancing endurance and muscle fiber composition^[2]
Heart failure — restoring cardiac energy metabolism and improving heart function^[3]
Mitochondrial dysfunction — conditions where cells cannot produce energy efficiently^[2]
Aging-related muscle decline — researchers note potential relevance for improving muscle function in aging populations^[2]

How SLU-PP-332 Is Dosed in Research

All published studies to date have been conducted in animal models, so there are no established human dosing protocols. Researchers vary doses depending on the model, route of administration, and the outcome being measured. For a structured summary of the doses reported in the preclinical literature, refer to the dosage chart on this page. If you need to calculate quantities for a specific study concentration, use the calculator tool available here. Always follow your institution's protocols and ethical guidelines when working with this compound.

Mixing and Storing SLU-PP-332

SLU-PP-332 is typically supplied as a dry powder. In research settings, it is commonly reconstituted using DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) as a primary solvent, sometimes followed by dilution in an aqueous vehicle such as PBS or a PEG/water mixture, depending on the administration route used in the study. Work in a clean environment, use sterile equipment, and always label your vials with the compound name, concentration, date of preparation, and solvent used. Reconstituted solutions should be stored according to the manufacturer's certificate of analysis — generally at −20°C and protected from light — and used within a validated stability window. Freeze-thaw cycles should be minimized. These are general research-handling guidelines; always consult your institution's safety data sheet and standard operating procedures for this compound.

Sources

A Synthetic ERR Agonist Alleviates Metabolic Syndrome. — The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 2024. PMID 37739806.
Synthetic ERRα/β/γ Agonist Induces an ERRα-Dependent Acute Aerobic Exercise Response and Enhances Exercise Capacity. — ACS chemical biology, 2023. PMID 36988910.
Novel Pan-ERR Agonists Ameliorate Heart Failure Through Enhancing Cardiac Fatty Acid Metabolism and Mitochondrial Function. — Circulation, 2024. PMID 37961903.
In Vitro Metabolism and Analytical Characterization of SLU-PP-332 and SLU-PP-915: Novel Pan-ERR Agonists With Doping Potential. — Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM, 2026. PMID 41588687.
Chemical optimization of the exercise mimetic SLU-PP-332 enables insight into estrogen-related receptor signaling. — International journal of biological macromolecules, 2026. PMID 41850449.
Analysis and Identification of In Vitro Metabolites of Exercise Mimetic SLU-PP-332 ERRα/β/γ Agonist for Doping-Control Purposes. — Drug testing and analysis, 2026. PMID 41688415.

SLU-PP-332 Guide & Tableau de Dose