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Research-onlyVendors pendingFacts verified · 2026-05-25

MGF

Also known as igf-1ec, mechano growth factor · Wikipedia

MGF (mechano growth factor) is the synthetic C-terminal E-domain peptide of the IGF-1Ec splice variant of the IGF-1 gene, selectively upregulated in skeletal muscle in response to mechanical loading and damage (Goldspink and colleagues). It is studied as a local-acting myogenic signal that activates satellite (muscle stem) cells, promoting proliferation and delaying differentiation. Endogenous IGF-1Ec is well-characterised in muscle physiology, but synthetic injectable MGF has no human clinical trials and no approved indication. Its very short plasma half-life (~5-7 minutes) makes systemic dosing largely ineffective; PEG-MGF was developed to address this.

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Mechanism of action

MGF is the C-terminal E-domain peptide of IGF-1Ec, an alternative splice variant of the IGF-1 gene that is selectively upregulated in mechanically loaded or damaged skeletal muscle (Yang and Goldspink, 1996; Hill and Goldspink, 2003). The E-peptide is reported to act independently of the IGF-1 receptor through a still-debated, distinct receptor to activate quiescent satellite cells, promote their proliferation, and delay differentiation, expanding the regenerative satellite-cell pool.

MGF is the C-terminal E-domain peptide of IGF-1Ec, an alternative splice variant of the IGF-1 gene that is selectively upregulated in mechanically loaded or damaged skeletal muscle (Yang and Goldspink, 1996; Hill and Goldspink, 2003). The E-peptide is reported to act independently of the IGF-1 receptor through a still-debated, distinct receptor to activate quiescent satellite cells, promote their proliferation, and delay differentiation, expanding the regenerative satellite-cell pool. Native mature IGF-1, released later from the same gene by post-translational cleavage, then drives differentiation of satellite cells into new myonuclei. Several studies have challenged whether the synthetic E-peptide alone reproduces these effects in vivo (Fornaro et al., 2014), and the precise MGF receptor remains uncertain.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Half-life

~5-7 minutes plasma (very short)

Routes

intramuscular · subcutaneous

Bioavailability

Extremely short half-life means systemic effect is negligible; effective use is local IM injection into the target muscle immediately after training to act on freshly activated satellite cells. For systemic dosing, see PEG-MGF.

Amino-acid sequence

(IGF-1Ec E-peptide variant; sequence varies by species; see IGF-1Ec literature)

Use & research dosing

StrengthEndurance

There is no approved therapeutic dose and no published human clinical trial of synthetic MGF. Self-experimentation protocols commonly report 100-200 mcg intramuscularly into the target muscle immediately post-workout on training days only, on the rationale that the very short plasma half-life (~5-7 minutes) confines effect to the injection site and to freshly activated satellite cells. Systemic dosing is considered ineffective. These protocols are not supported by controlled human PK or efficacy data and the actual identity/purity of vendor material is often unverified.

Research-use framing only. SavePeptides sells nothing for human consumption. Doses above reflect reported research / self-experimentation ranges, not clinical recommendations.

Editorial perspective

MGF is essentially useless systemically because of its very short plasma half-life (~5-7 min) - the entire pharmacology depends on local IM injection timed to mechanical loading. PEG-MGF was specifically engineered to overcome this PK limitation. The MGF research story has been controversial: some satellite-cell studies do not replicate, the receptor remains uncertain, and at least one peer-reviewed paper reported no effect of the synthetic E-peptide on myoblasts (Fornaro et al., 2014). Knowledge-base copy should reflect this uncertainty.

— SavePeptides editorial desk · last updated 2026-05-25

Cautions & contraindications

Before researching this compound, note:

  • Not FDA-approved; no human clinical trials of synthetic MGF
  • Avoid in active or suspected malignancy (satellite-cell proliferative signalling, IGF-axis link)
  • Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding (no safety data)
  • Avoid in proliferative retinopathy (IGF-axis concern)
  • Local injection-site reactions; risk of focal tissue effects, scarring, or asymmetric hypertrophy with repeat same-site dosing
  • Stability in solution is very poor; reconstituted product degrades quickly
  • Vendor material identity is frequently unverified - many products labelled MGF are of unknown sequence/purity
  • WADA-relevant: growth factors that act on muscle are prohibited at all times under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors)

Research foundation

The papers behind the page.

  1. [01]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3485521/
  2. [02]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21354439/

Facts verified

2026-05-25

Confidence

low

What this means

  • no human clinical trials of synthetic MGF
  • synthetic E-peptide receptor and effect reproducibility are contested in the literature
  • very short plasma half-life makes systemic dosing ineffective
  • vendor material identity often unverified

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MGF · SavePeptides