Leu-enkephalin vs DPDPE
Head-to-head comparison of Leu-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu) and DPDPE ([D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | Leu-enkephalin | DPDPE |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pain Management | Pain Management |
| Full Name | Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu | [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin |
| Molecular Weight | 555.63 Da | 645.79 Da |
| Half-Life | 1-5 minutes in plasma | 15-60 minutes in plasma |
| Amino Acids | 5 | 5 |
| Typical Dose | 0.1-5 ug per animal | 0.01-1 ug per animal |
| Route | Intrathecal / intracerebroventricular | Intrathecal / intracerebroventricular |
| Purity | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 1000 | 800 |
| Research Status | Pre-clinical | Pre-clinical |
Leu-enkephalin Benefits
- ✓delta-opioid activity
- ✓endogenous analgesic model
- ✓receptor-selective pharmacology
- ✓nociception pathway research
DPDPE Benefits
- ✓delta-opioid selectivity
- ✓improved conformational stability
- ✓analgesic receptor mapping
- ✓useful in chronic pain models
Leu-enkephalin Dosing
Intrathecal 0.1-5 ug per animal|Intracerebroventricular 0.1-2 ug per animal|In vitro 1-100 nM
DPDPE Dosing
Intrathecal 0.01-1 ug per animal|Intracerebroventricular 0.01-0.5 ug per animal|In vitro 0.1-20 nM
Leu-enkephalin Side Effects
- ⚠sedation
- ⚠constipation-like opioid effects
- ⚠very short plasma stability
DPDPE Side Effects
- ⚠sedation
- ⚠nausea-like opioid effects
- ⚠tolerance with repeated dosing
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.
DPDPE
DPDPE is widely cited in opioid pharmacology because it helped establish the functional role of delta-opioid receptors in pain control. Its constrained structure is also used to explore how peptide cyclization changes potency, stability, and tissue selectivity.
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