Leu-enkephalin vs Somatostatin
Head-to-head comparison of Leu-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu) and Somatostatin (Somatostatin-14) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | Leu-enkephalin | Somatostatin |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pain Management | Pain Management |
| Full Name | Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Leu | Somatostatin-14 |
| Molecular Weight | 555.63 Da | 1637.85 |
| Half-Life | 1-5 minutes in plasma | 1-3 min |
| Amino Acids | 5 | 14 |
| Typical Dose | 0.1-5 ug per animal | N/A|N/A |
| Route | Intrathecal / intracerebroventricular | IV/SC |
| Purity | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 1000 | 84 |
| Research Status | Pre-clinical | Approved |
Leu-enkephalin Benefits
- ✓delta-opioid activity
- ✓endogenous analgesic model
- ✓receptor-selective pharmacology
- ✓nociception pathway research
Somatostatin Benefits
- ✓nociceptive inhibition
- ✓anti-inflammatory signaling
- ✓visceral pain modulation
Leu-enkephalin Dosing
Intrathecal 0.1-5 ug per animal|Intracerebroventricular 0.1-2 ug per animal|In vitro 1-100 nM
Somatostatin Dosing
N/A|N/A
Leu-enkephalin Side Effects
- ⚠sedation
- ⚠constipation-like opioid effects
- ⚠very short plasma stability
Somatostatin Side Effects
- ⚠hyperglycemia
- ⚠bradycardia
- ⚠GI upset
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.
Somatostatin
Somatostatin reduces release of multiple excitatory mediators and can suppress pain signaling in preclinical and limited translational work. Its analgesic use is not standard, but the peptide is real and mechanistically relevant to pain control.
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