Peptide LibraryMGF
Also known as: Mechano growth factor, IGF-1Ec
MGF (also called Mechano growth factor or IGF-1Ec) is a research peptide in the IGF-1 receptor agonist class. Mechano growth factor is a splice variant of the IGF-1 gene, produced when mechanical loading or muscle damage shifts splicing to include exon 5.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- —
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- —
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Not Approved
- FDA compounding lists
- 503A Category 3
- Evidence level
- Insufficient Evidence
- Human dose established
- No
- Administration Route
- Not established in humans
- Frequency
- Not established in humans
- Last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- Reviewed
- Nov 7, 2026
- Targets
- IGF-1 receptorSatellite cells (proposed)
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected in Nov 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 3
- Listed offers
- 5
- Median price per mg
- $22.00/mg
- Typical $13.75–$23.75/mg
Research summary
Mechano growth factor is the IGF-1Ec splice variant induced by muscle loading. Research MGF peptides are not an FDA drug. WADA S2.
Research evidence
- Regulatory review (FDA label)None in reviewed sources
- Controlled human trialsNone in reviewed sources
- Early or uncontrolled human studiesOnly in 1 review or summary
- Lab & animal studiesNone in reviewed sources
How it works
Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess.
Peptide Library's MGF profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
MGF dosage: no established human dose
MGF has no established human dosage. No trial of it is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and no human study has given it as a treatment; the human literature measures the body's own MGF in muscle after exercise or other stimuli. The published dosing is in rodents and rabbits, using modified E-domain peptides at weight-based doses or at concentrations applied to cells and joints.
No established human dosage.
Human clinical evidence: None identified.
Preclinical research: MGF, or mechano growth factor, is a splice variant of IGF-1 (IGF-1Ec) that muscle makes after loading or injury. The research peptide sold under this name is a synthetic version of its E-domain. Most published work uses modified forms, such as the stabilised MGF-C24E or phospho-variant E-domain peptides, in cells, rodents and rabbits. Those studies report either weight-based animal doses or concentrations in a dish or a joint, and neither converts into a human dose. No human study has given MGF by any route, so no dose, route or interval is established.
Animal dosing is not converted into a human dose anywhere on this page. Where research figures appear below, they are reported as studied, not recommended.
| Human dosing established | No |
|---|---|
| Route | Not established in humans |
| Evidence level | Insufficient Evidence |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-07 |
Human research reported
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Human study — the body's own MGF measured in muscle after resistance exercise (2005)Research-reported · Observational human muscle-biopsy study | Nine people, muscle biopsies before and after bouts of resistance exercise | No dose given: nothing was administered | Not applicable | — | — | Mechano-growth factor mRNA was unchanged by the exercise, while several other myogenic genes rose | Time course of molecular responses of human skeletal muscle to acute bouts of resistance exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2005. |
Preclinical and analog research
Not human dosing evidence. Listed for completeness and never extrapolated to a human dose.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preclinical — MGF E-domain peptides in mice, 2 weeks (2022); modified peptides, not MGF itselfPreclinical · Animal study of modified E-domain peptides (analog evidence)Studied an analog, not MGF itself | Mice | 2.25, 4.5 or 9 mg/kg a day (non-human) | Not stated in the indexed abstract | — | 2 weeks | The lowest and highest doses depressed heart function; at 4.5 mg/kg a day the two peptide versions had opposite effects | Mechano-growth factor E-domain modulates cardiac contractile function through 14-3-3 protein interactomes. Front Physiol. 2022. |
| Preclinical — MGF-C24E, a stabilised version, in cells and a rabbit knee model (2018)Preclinical · Cell and animal study of a stabilised MGF variant (analog evidence)Studied an analog, not MGF itself | Human osteoarthritic chondrocytes in culture; rabbits with a knee osteoarthritis model | 10 to 60 ng/mL applied to cells for 12 hours; 0.1 to 10 mcg/mL in the rabbit knee (laboratory concentrations, not a dose given to a person) | Applied to cells and into the joint | — | 2 weeks in the rabbit model | Less cartilage degeneration in the rabbit model, and more proliferation, migration and matrix synthesis in the cultured cells | The use of mechano growth factor to prevent cartilage degeneration in knee osteoarthritis. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018. |
| Preclinical — MGF E-domain peptide injected into rat muscle (2016)Preclinical · Animal study of an E-domain peptide (analog evidence)Studied an analog, not MGF itself | Rats under 14 days of tail suspension to simulate weightlessness | Not stated in the indexed abstract | Intramuscular | — | 14 days | Reversed the rise in memory-related genes and microRNAs in the hippocampus | Intramuscular injection of mechano growth factor E domain peptide regulated expression of memory-related sod, miR-134 and miR-125b-3p in rat hippocampus under simulated weightlessness. Biotechnol Lett. 2016. |
Where sources disagree
- Human studies that mention MGF measure how much of it the body makes, usually in muscle biopsies after exercise. They are not evidence of a dose of injected MGF.
- MGF, PEG-MGF, MGF-C24E and the E-domain peptides used in the animal work are different molecules with different stability. A figure for one is not a figure for another, and the reviewed PEG-MGF profile also records no human dose.
- One mouse study found opposite effects on heart function at the same dose depending on which version of the peptide was used, and a depression of heart function at both its lowest and its highest dose.
- Many shop listings matched to this profile are PEG-MGF rather than MGF, so a vial size seen for sale may belong to the PEGylated form.
- Searching for "MGF" also returns African swine fever virus genes with MGF names, which inflates the apparent volume of evidence.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 2 mg, 5 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 mg | 2 mL | 2.5 mg/mL | 25 mcg per 0.01 mL |
| 2 mg | 2 mL | 1 mg/mL | 10 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Injection Sites
- AbdomenThigh
- Timing Notes
- Educational catalog only — not medical advice
Sequence & molecular data
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder |
|---|---|
| Formulation | Lyophilized Powder |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Mechano growth factor is a splice variant of the IGF-1 gene, produced when mechanical loading or muscle damage shifts splicing to include exon 5. The resulting transcript encodes the same mature IGF-1 sequence attached to a distinct C-terminal E-peptide, designated Ec in humans, which is unique to this variant. Research interest centres on that E-peptide: in cell and animal models it appears to act independently of the IGF-1 receptor to promote satellite-cell activation and proliferation, the first step in muscle repair after mechanical stress. The distinction matters, because the proposed activity is attributed to a domain that native IGF-1 does not have. Human data is minimal.
Origin
Synthetic IGF-1Ec-related peptide.
Targets
Studies
- The role of mechano growth factor in chondrocytes and cartilage defects: a concise review
- The role of the IGF-1 Ec in myoskeletal system and osteosarcoma pathophysiology
- Biological activity of the e domain of the IGF-1Ec as addressed by synthetic peptides
- Minireview: Mechano-growth factor: a putative product of IGF-I gene expression involved in tissue repair and regeneration
- Mechano-growth factor regulates periodontal ligament stem cell proliferation and differentiation through Fyn-RhoA-YAP signaling
Research statistics
187 PubMed publications · 12.9% human clinical research · 0 registered trials
Counts of published research through 2026-11-01, not evidence that it works. Publications by year, study types and trials · How publications are counted
Regulatory & research status
MGF is not an FDA-approved product. It is sold for laboratory research and has no approved medical use.
| FDA status | Not Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Research-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Banned in Sport |
| Library classification | Research-Only |
FDA compounding status
These FDA lists track substances nominated for use in pharmacy compounding. Being on a list is not FDA approval and doesn't mean a product is safe or effective.
| 503A Category 3 | Nominated without adequate support FDA source |
|---|
FDA list dated May 14, 2026.
How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ
Benefits
MGF side effects
MGF has no controlled human safety data. The effects below are reported, not established, and absence from the list is not evidence of safety.
Side Effects
- Unknown human AE profile
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
MGF: frequently asked questions
What is MGF?
Mechano growth factor is the IGF-1Ec splice variant induced by muscle loading. Research MGF peptides are not an FDA drug. WADA S2.
How does MGF work?
Mechano growth factor is a splice variant of the IGF-1 gene, produced when mechanical loading or muscle damage shifts splicing to include exon 5. The resulting transcript encodes the same mature IGF-1 sequence attached to a distinct C-terminal E-peptide, designated Ec in humans, which is unique to this variant.
Is MGF FDA approved?
No. MGF is not approved by the FDA for any indication and is categorised as research-only. It has not been reviewed for safety or efficacy as a medicine, and published research should be read as investigation rather than established use. FDA's compounding lists show 503A Category 3: Nominated without adequate support.
Is MGF banned in sport?
MGF is recorded here as prohibited in sport. Athletes subject to anti-doping rules should check the current WADA Prohibited List directly, since it is revised annually and classifications change.
What peptides are similar to MGF?
Compounds most often compared with MGF include IGF-1 (overview), Mecasermin, IGF-1 LR3 and IGF-1 DES. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- WADA Prohibited List 2026External reference
- The role of mechano growth factor in chondrocytes and cartilage defects: a concise review — Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai), 2023External reference
- The role of the IGF-1 Ec in myoskeletal system and osteosarcoma pathophysiology — Crit Rev Oncol Hematol, 2016External reference
- Biological activity of the e domain of the IGF-1Ec as addressed by synthetic peptides — Hormones (Athens), 2014External reference
- Minireview: Mechano-growth factor: a putative product of IGF-I gene expression involved in tissue repair and regeneration — Endocrinology, 2010External reference
- Mechano-growth factor regulates periodontal ligament stem cell proliferation and differentiation through Fyn-RhoA-YAP signaling — Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2024External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
Related peptides
Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 2026 · Version 2
This MGF profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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