This is one of the most important distinctions in growth-hormone research. Exogenous recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) — injecting GH itself — shuts down the body's own production via classic negative feedback, since the hypothalamus and pituitary sense already-high GH/IGF-1 levels and stop signalling for more.
Growth hormone secretagogues work differently. Because compounds like CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin stimulate the pituitary to release its own stored GH rather than supplying GH directly, the release remains subject to the body's normal regulatory feedback from somatostatin and IGF-1. The hypothalamus retains control of the process — secretagogues amplify the pulsatile signal without removing the feedback loop that would otherwise cap it.
The caveat: continuous, high-frequency secretagogue use over long periods can lead to reduced pituitary responsiveness over time — not the same mechanism as HGH-induced suppression, but a reason cycling protocols exist for this class of peptide.
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