If you have been reading about melanocortin signalling and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Last reviewed on 2026-08-01. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
The compound was developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, where it emerged from research on short ACTH fragments and their effects on the central nervous system. Russian pharmaceutical listings describe it as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent, most often formulated as nasal drops. It is not a marketed medicine in the United States or the European Union, and no pharmacopoeial monograph covers it. Consequently, most published clinical experience with the substance originates from a small number of research centres, mainly in Russia and neighbouring countries.
Pharmacological accounts link semax to melanocortin signalling and to modulation of neurotrophic factor expression, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. Much of this evidence comes from rodent studies using intranasal delivery, a route chosen because it allows peptides to reach the central nervous system with limited systemic exposure. Whether the same mechanisms operate in humans at comparable magnitude remains an open question. The precise receptor or receptors responsible for the reported behavioural and neuroprotective effects have not been conclusively identified.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It corresponds to the ACTH(4-7) fragment extended at the C-terminus by a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide, an addition intended to slow enzymatic breakdown. The molecular formula is C37H51N9O10S and the molecular mass is approximately 814 daltons. In the literature it is often described as an ACTH(4-10) analog, although that label reflects a naming convention as much as a precise structural relationship. The compound was developed in Russia and remains most closely associated with that research tradition.
Laboratory descriptions of the material are consistent across suppliers. It appears as a white to off-white lyophilized powder that dissolves readily in water and in polar organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide. Aqueous solutions are clear and colorless at low concentrations. Because the peptide contains methionine, oxidation at the sulfur atom is a recognized degradation pathway, and handling notes usually call for protected, desiccated storage. Reported purity for research-grade lots is generally above 95 percent as measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C37H51N9O10S | Free acid form of the heptapeptide; depends on terminal groups |
| Molecular mass | About 813.9 g/mol | Average mass used for mass spectrometry confirmation |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid | Supplied as a lyophilised powder; hygroscopic |
| Solubility class | Freely soluble in aqueous media | Water, saline, and phosphate buffers; limited organic solubility |
| Typical storage temperature | -20 degrees Celsius | Long term and dry; short working periods may use 2 to 8 degrees Celsius |
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide whose sequence is Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro. It was developed as a fragment analog of adrenocorticotropic hormone, modeled specifically on the ACTH(4-10) region. The first four residues reproduce that fragment, while a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide is appended at the C-terminus. Work on the compound originated in Russia, where it entered clinical use as an intranasal preparation. Its sequence places it among short regulatory peptides studied for effects on the central nervous system rather than on the adrenal axis.
The C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension is not incidental. Proline-rich tails are known to resist several common peptidases, and the published literature attributes the longer half-life of Semax, relative to unmodified ACTH fragments, to this feature. The modification also removes the melanocyte-stimulating and corticosteroidogenic activity that characterizes longer ACTH-derived sequences. Because the molecule is small and hydrophilic, it is typically formulated as an aqueous solution for intranasal or parenteral delivery. Acetylation or amidation at the termini appears in closely related research peptides and shifts the mass by a fixed increment.
Reported pharmacological work centers on neurotrophic signaling, including changes in BDNF and NGF expression in hippocampal tissue in animal models. Human data come largely from studies conducted in Russia, and how well those results generalize to other populations remains an open question. Regulatory status differs sharply by jurisdiction: Semax is a registered prescription medicine in Russia, while it holds no approved marketing status in the United States or the European Union. Outside such jurisdictions it is generally handled as a research chemical, which affects both documentation and quality expectations.
Semax 是一种人工合成的七肽，氨基酸序列为 Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro，单字母缩写记作 MEHFPGP。它被归类为促肾上腺皮质激素片段 ACTH(4-10) 的结构类似物，但并不天然存在于生物体内。母体片段 ACTH(4-10) 的序列为 Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly，Semax 替换了中间两个残基，并在羧基端延长了 Pro-Gly-Pro 三肽。这种延长被普遍认为能提升分子对肽酶的耐受性。
该化合物于二十世纪八十年代在俄罗斯被开发，相关工作由俄罗斯科学院分子遗传学研究所的研究团队主导。开发目标并非复制 ACTH 的完整激素活性，而是寻找保留其神经作用方向、同时去除促肾上腺皮质激素释放效应的短肽片段。研究记录显示，这一方向促成了多个相关短肽的合成与筛选，而 Semax 是其中被研究最广泛的一个。当地文献常以 Семакс 这一名称指代它。
Development of the compound took place in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, largely through peptide research groups affiliated with the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute and Moscow State University. Investigators screened fragments of adrenocorticotropic hormone for activity on the central nervous system while attempting to separate cognitive effects from hormonal ones. The shortened sequence was selected because it retained behavioral activity in animal models without stimulating corticosteroid release. Early publications described the molecule as an ACTH(4-10) analog.
Published research on this peptide originates mainly from Russian laboratories, and the wider international literature is comparatively thin. Studies have used rodent models of stroke, hypoxia, and memory tasks, with a smaller number of human trials reported. Reported outcomes include changes in attention and memory measures, along with effects on neurotrophic factor expression in some experiments. Small sample sizes, inconsistent dosing protocols, and limited independent replication are widely noted limitations, so the strength of the clinical evidence remains an open question.
=== Histology === Histologically speaking, it is characterized as dense connective tissue made primarily of type 1 collagen fibers. The collagen of the sclera is continuous with the cornea. From outer to innermost, the four layers of the sclera are:
=== Agriculture === Applying polyamines such as putrescine (PUT) to a plant causes lowered ethylene production. When applied pre-harvest, it increases plant resistance to high temperatures and drought. When applied post-harvest (to the fruits), PUT delays the ripening process and extends the shelf life. It is known to be applicable to a wide variety of fruits, including but not limited to peach, plum, cherry, tomato, and pear. It is also applicable to other edible parts such as broccoli. PUT has an all-round effect: it delays the deterioration of appearance (weight [mainly water] loss, % of rotten fruits, firmness), taste (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, organic acid content), and nutrition (phenol content, antioxidant content). A nanoparticle of putrescine coated with chitosan has been used as an edible coating on strawberries. Like regular putrescine treatment, treated fruits had higher antioxidant capacity, higher enzyme activities, higher tissue firmness, and higher total soluble solids. It extends the post-harvest life of strawberries during storage up to 12 days.
Deka Bike (デカバイク, Deka Baiku): Deka Break's personal police motorcycle-themed Deka Machine that can be ridden by Dekaranger Robo in the Riding Dekaranger Robo (ライディングデカレンジャーロボ, Raidingu Dekarenjā Robo) formation, allowing it to perform the Riding Justice Flasher (ライディングジャスティスフラッシャー, Raidingu Jasutisu Furasshā) attack. Blast Buggy (ブラストバギー, Burasuto Bagī): A combat vehicle–themed Deka Machine from S.P.D.'s Planet Leslie branch that Deka Break pilots during the events of the film Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger The Movie: Full Blast Action.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== 2000 census === As of the census of 2000, there were 14,222 people, 5,834 households, and 3,780 families living in the city. The population density was 1,952.9 inhabitants per square mile (754.0/km2). There were 6,202 housing units at an average density of 851.6 per square mile (328.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.33% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
Each lung is enclosed within a pleural sac of two pleurae which allows the inner and outer walls to slide over each other whilst breathing takes place, without much friction. The inner visceral pleura divides each lung as fissures into sections called lobes. The right lung has three lobes and the left has two. The lobes are further divided into bronchopulmonary segments and lobules. The lungs have a unique blood supply, receiving deoxygenated blood sent from the heart to receive oxygen (the pulmonary circulation) and a separate supply of oxygenated blood (the bronchial circulation). The tissue of the lungs can be affected by several respiratory diseases including pneumonia and lung cancer. Chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema can be related to smoking or exposure to harmful substances. Diseases such as bronchitis can also affect the respiratory tract. Medical terms related to the lung often begin with pulmo-, from the Latin pulmonarius (of the lungs) as in pulmonology, or with pneumo- (from Greek πνεύμων "lung") as in pneumonia. In embryonic development, the lungs begin to develop as an outpouching of the foregut, a tube which goes on to form the upper part of the digestive system. When the lungs are formed the fetus is held in the fluid-filled amniotic sac and so they do not function to breathe. Blood is also diverted from the lungs through the ductus arteriosus. At birth however, air begins to pass through the lungs, and the diversionary duct closes so that the lungs can begin to respire.
Weight gain due to extra water retention to the muscle Upset stomach One well-documented effect of creatine supplementation is weight gain within the first week of the supplement schedule, likely attributable to greater water retention due to the increased muscle creatine concentrations by means of osmosis. A 2009 systematic review discredited concerns that creatine supplementation could affect hydration status and heat tolerance and lead to muscle cramping and diarrhea. Despite weight gain due to water retention and potential cramps being two seemingly "common" side effects, new research indicates that these side effects are likely not the result of creatine usage. In addition, the initial water retention is attributed to more short-term creatine use (the "loading" phase). Studies have shown that creatine usage does not necessarily affect total body water relative to muscle mass in the long-term.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Therapeutic interventions predominantly involve psychotherapy, with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and schema therapy being the most effective. Although pharmacotherapy cannot cure BPD, it may be employed to mitigate symptoms, with atypical antipsychotics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants commonly prescribed. Medications are used cautiously and may have minimal impact on neural function. Due to the high utilization of healthcare resources by people with BPD, up to half may show significant improvement over ten years with appropriate treatment. Estimation of BPD's prevalence varies. In the US, around 1% of the population are diagnosed with it. BPD is more prevalent among adolescents and young adults than elderly, and symptoms may remit with age. The term 'borderline' is debated, as it referred to concepts of borderline insanity and patients on the border between neurosis and psychosis, which are now considered clinically imprecise.
The level measurement of liquids in pressure vessels and tanks in the petrochemical industry is undertaken by differential pressure level meters, radar, magnetostrictive, nucleonic, magnetic float and pneumatic bubbler instruments.
These intraparietal haustoria, which penetrate partially into the algal cell wall but not into the cell membrane itself, allow short-distance shifting of photobiont cells and create pathways for carbohydrate translocation from the photosynthetic algae to the fungus. Unlike many other lichens, X. parietina can form several haustoria per algal cell, with each haustorium developed by either a single hypha or multiple fungal hyphae working together, enhancing the efficiency of the symbiotic relationship. Xanthoria parietina follows a four-stage life cycle with 13 developmental states. After spore germination, growth progresses through protothallus (fungal hyphae only), proterothallus (initial algal association), and juvenile stages, eventually forming a foliose thallus. In young thalli, apothecia cover about half of the thallus margin, but in mature thalli, they occupy only around 1/16 of the margin. This decrease indicates that as the lichen matures, the relative area devoted to reproductive structures declines compared to the overall thallus size. Environmental conditions strongly influence development—thalli in polluted or urban areas often fail to complete their life cycle, whereas those in clean habitats reach full maturity. Reproductive success varies by substrate—thalli on aspen trees produce more apothecia and spores than those on other species. Additionally, the mycobiont can associate with non-native algae (e.g., Pleurococcus) before establishing its typical Trebouxia or Pseudotrebouxia symbiont, enabling colonization across different substrates.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is described as a synthetic analogue of the ACTH(4–10) fragment, a short segment of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Its sequence differs from that fragment and includes two proline residues, which influence stability and behaviour in solution.
It appears in Russian pharmaceutical listings as a nasal formulation, but it is not an authorised medicine in the United States or the European Union. Outside those markets it is normally encountered as a research chemical rather than a prescription product.
Laboratory and animal work points to melanocortin signalling and changes in neurotrophic factor levels, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The exact receptor targets and the degree to which these findings transfer to humans are still unresolved.
It is registered as a pharmaceutical product in Russia, where it is typically supplied as a nasal solution. In most other countries it is not an approved drug and is traded as a research chemical instead. Approval status depends entirely on the jurisdiction involved.