Follistatin vs Substance P
A detailed comparison to help you understand the differences and choose the right peptide for your research goals.
Follistatin
Follistatin is a glycoprotein that inhibits myostatin, the protein responsible for limiting muscle growth. By blocking myostatin, follistatin can theoretically allow for increased muscle development beyond natural limits.
Full details →Substance P
Substance P is an 11-amino acid neuropeptide involved in pain transmission, inflammation, and various neurological processes. While not used therapeutically itself, understanding it is crucial for pain research.
Full details →Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aspect | Follistatin | Substance P |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Binds to and neutralizes myostatin and activin, both of which are negative regulators of muscle mass. This removes the natural brake on muscle growth, allowing for enhanced hypertrophy. | Binds primarily to NK1 receptors to transmit pain signals from peripheral nerves to the CNS. Also promotes inflammation, causes vasodilation, and stimulates immune cells. |
| Typical Dosage | Research protocols typically use 100-300mcg daily, though optimal dosing is not well established. Gene therapy approaches have also been studied. | Not used as a therapeutic agent. NK1 receptor antagonists (blocking Substance P) are used clinically for chemotherapy-induced nausea. |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection. Different isoforms exist (FS344, FS315) with varying properties. Requires careful sourcing due to complexity. | Research compound only. Therapeutic applications focus on blocking rather than administering Substance P. |
| Side Effects | Limited human data. Theoretical concerns about effects on other organs where activin signaling is important. | Administration would cause pain, inflammation, and neurogenic responses. Not given therapeutically. |
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