IGF-2 vs PACAP-38
Head-to-head comparison of IGF-2 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor II) and PACAP-38 (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-38 (human PACAP-38)) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
| Property | IGF-2 | PACAP-38 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cognitive Enhancement | Cognitive Enhancement |
| Full Name | Insulin-Like Growth Factor II | Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-38 (human PACAP-38) |
| Molecular Weight | 7467 Da | 4534 Da |
| Half-Life | 6-10 minutes | minutes |
| Amino Acids | 67 aa | 38 aa |
| Typical Dose | 1-10 µg preclinical range | 10-100 µg preclinical range |
| Route | Intranasal | Intranasal |
| Purity | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 1200 | 650 |
| Research Status | Pre-clinical | Pre-clinical |
IGF-2 Benefits
- ✓memory consolidation
- ✓hippocampal plasticity
- ✓synaptic repair
- ✓neuroprotection
PACAP-38 Benefits
- ✓synaptic plasticity
- ✓BDNF upregulation
- ✓neuroprotection
- ✓memory consolidation
IGF-2 Dosing
0.1-1 µg ICV in rodents|1-10 µg intrahippocampal in preclinical work|acute post-training protocols
PACAP-38 Dosing
0.1-1 nmol ICV in rodents|10-100 µg intranasal in preclinical studies|single-dose or short repeated protocols
IGF-2 Side Effects
- ⚠hypoglycemia risk
- ⚠edema
- ⚠insulin-like systemic effects
PACAP-38 Side Effects
- ⚠headache-like effects
- ⚠flushing
- ⚠hypotension
Research Overview
IGF-2
IGF-2 has strong preclinical evidence for improving memory formation and supporting synaptic changes tied to learning. It also shows neuroprotective and repair-related effects in models of injury and neurodegeneration.
PACAP-38
PACAP-38 is one of the most studied endogenous neuropeptides for protecting neurons from ischemic and excitotoxic damage. Preclinical literature also links it to hippocampal plasticity and learning-related signaling, including increased BDNF expression.
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