Leu-enkephalin vs DADLE
Head-to-head comparison of Leu-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu) and DADLE ([D-Ala2, D-Leu5]-enkephalin) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | Leu-enkephalin | DADLE |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pain Management | Pain Management |
| Full Name | Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu | [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]-enkephalin |
| Molecular Weight | 555.63 Da | 569.67 Da |
| Half-Life | 1-5 minutes in plasma | 5-20 minutes in plasma |
| Amino Acids | 5 | 5 |
| Typical Dose | 0.1-5 ug per animal | 0.01-2 ug per animal |
| Route | Intrathecal / intracerebroventricular | Intrathecal / intracerebroventricular |
| Purity | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 1000 | 450 |
| Research Status | Pre-clinical | Pre-clinical |
Leu-enkephalin Benefits
- ✓delta-opioid activity
- ✓endogenous analgesic model
- ✓receptor-selective pharmacology
- ✓nociception pathway research
DADLE Benefits
- ✓delta-opioid agonism
- ✓enhanced peptide stability
- ✓spinal analgesia models
- ✓research on tolerance mechanisms
Leu-enkephalin Dosing
Intrathecal 0.1-5 ug per animal|Intracerebroventricular 0.1-2 ug per animal|In vitro 1-100 nM
DADLE Dosing
Intrathecal 0.01-2 ug per animal|Intracerebroventricular 0.01-1 ug per animal|In vitro 0.1-50 nM
Leu-enkephalin Side Effects
- ⚠sedation
- ⚠constipation-like opioid effects
- ⚠very short plasma stability
DADLE Side Effects
- ⚠sedation
- ⚠motor suppression at higher doses
- ⚠opioid tolerance with repeated exposure
Research Overview
Leu-enkephalin
Leu-enkephalin is a standard tool in opioid receptor and pain-transmission research because it helps distinguish delta- from mu-preferring signaling. Its research value is high, but its clinical utility is limited by rapid enzymatic breakdown and delivery challenges.
DADLE
DADLE has been studied for analgesic, neuroprotective, and receptor-selective opioid effects in animal and tissue models. It remains important as a mechanistic probe because it is more stable than endogenous enkephalins but still peptide-like in its delivery constraints.
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