Repair & Recovery Not FDA-approved · research compound

MGF

Mechano Growth Factor · IGF-1Ec

Evidence: Studied in humans. Example dose: finalize with a provider. Not a fact-check stamp.

100-200mcg – 200 mcg IM Post-workout, 2-3x/week

Mechano Growth Factor (MGF) is a splice variant of the IGF-1 gene (IGF-1Ec in humans, IGF-1Eb in rodents) that is produced locally in muscle tissue in response to mechanical stress, such as resistance exercise or tissue damage. Unlike systemic IGF-1, MGF is expressed transiently and acts in an autocrine/paracrine manner at the site of muscle damage. It plays a key role in activating muscle satellite (stem) cells, initiating the early repair and growth response following exercise-induced muscle damage.

Quick Start

Route

Intramuscular (IM) - local injection into target muscle

Start low

100-200mcg IM

Frequency

Post-workout, 2-3x/week

Timing

No specific requirement

Post-workout injection at target muscle (IM). Pin alone. Inject within 30 minutes of training.

❋

Start here. Every protocol below is ordered lowest-first. Begin at the smallest effective dose, hold about a week to assess tolerance, and step up only if needed.

Tiered Protocols · lowest first

Conservative start

100-200mcg · Intramuscular (IM) - local injection into target muscle · Post-workout, 2-3x/week

conservative starter

100-200mcg

Post-workout, 2-3x/week

Intermediate

Localized Hypertrophy

200 mcg · IM · 3x Weekly

human clinical trial · Hameed/Goldspink 2003 (J Physiol 555:231-40, PMID 14565994)

Injected bilaterally into trained muscle groups immediately after training. Extremely short half-life requires precision timing.

200 mcg

3x Weekly

Reconstitution CalculatorU-100

Vial strength

BAC water

Vials in this mix

Syringe size

Target dose

050100u

Draw to

— units

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I will split this dose across more than one syringe

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How it works

MGF activates quiescent muscle satellite (stem) cells, causing them to re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate. This is a critical early step in muscle repair following damage. MGF acts via a distinct receptor pathway from mature IGF-1, primarily activating satellite cell proliferation rather than differentiation.

Signals through the IGF-1 receptor but with different downstream effects than mature IGF-1, preferentially activating the ERK1/2 (proliferative) pathway over the PI3K/Akt (differentiation/hypertrophy) pathway. This makes MGF an early-phase repair signal that precedes the later IGF-1-driven hypertrophy response.

Also inhibits satellite cell differentiation during the proliferative phase, ensuring an adequate pool of progenitor cells is generated before they commit to becoming mature muscle fibers. This temporal regulation is essential for optimal muscle repair and may support hyperplasia (new fiber formation).

What to expect

Early

Days 1–7

Days 1-7: Satellite cell activation occurs within hours of injection (based on preclinical data). Subjective effects are minimal in the first week.

Evidence

HumanPresent

AnimalPresent

In-vitroStrong

Each reference below was re-fetched from its PubMed record, and the quoted sentence was confirmed to appear in that abstract and to support the claim it sits under. Follow any of them to read the source.

Evidence boundary from the checked abstract: Mechano growth factor (MGF), an isoform of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), is recognized as a typical mechanically sensitive growth factor and has been shown to play an indispensable role in the skeletal system.

Mechano growth factor (MGF), an isoform of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), is recognized as a typical mechanically sensitive growth factor and has been shown to play an indispensable role in the skeletal system.

The role of mechano growth factor in chondrocytes and cartilage defects: a concise review. Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica · 2023 · PMID 37171185

Evidence scope. This entry supports only the exact statement quoted from the live abstract; it does not independently verify OnePin's displayed dose, route, frequency, formulation, population, or broader mechanism.

Claims we could not support

No abstract we checked supports these for this molecule at this route. That is not the same as saying they are false — it marks where the evidence is missing.

Dose/route: 100-200mcg; Intramuscular (IM) - local injection into target muscle; Post-workout, 2-3x/week. No checked live PubMed abstract verified this exact displayed dose, route, and frequency for the same molecule/formulation and relevant population.

Primary safety claim: Injection site pain and swelling (common with IM injection). No checked live PubMed abstract directly verified this source-JSON safety claim at the displayed formulation, route, and regimen.

Interactions & stacking

Two different questions: what is documented about running these together, and what is documented about drawing them into the same syringe. A good pharmacological partner can still have to be pinned separately.

Documented together

Testosterone CypionateAndrogens support the anabolic environment that complements MGF's satellite cell activation - no direct interaction

EpicatechinOral myostatin inhibitor complements injectable satellite cell activator - different mechanisms and routes

GHK-CuGHK-Cu supports tissue remodeling and repair - compatible with MGF's muscle-specific effects when injected at different sites

IGF-1 LR3Sequential mechanism - MGF activates satellite cell proliferation (early repair) then IGF-1 LR3 drives differentiation and hypertrophy (later growth phase)

Keep separate

Any compound in same syringeMGF is a fragile peptide with an extremely short half-life - must be injected alone directly into the target muscle, never mixed with other peptides

InsulinInsulin drives IGF-1 receptor signaling toward differentiation - may prematurely push MGF-activated satellite cells out of the proliferative phase, reducing the satellite cell pool

Check any specific pair in the Stack & Interaction Checker, which answers both questions separately. Absence of a documented conflict is not evidence of safety.

Pharmacokinetics

Illustrative plasma concentration · 0.5 h

Half-life

~5-7 min

(native MGF), ~several hours (PEG-MGF)

Peak · Tmax

~5-10 min

IM (native MGF), ~1-2 hours (PEG-MGF)

Elimination

~25-35 min

(native MGF), ~12-24 hours (PEG-MGF)

Bioavailability

Local bioavailability high with IM injection into target muscle. Systemic bioavailability very low due to rapid degradation.

Duration of action

30-60 minutes

(native MGF), 6-12 hours (PEG-MGF); satellite cell activation persists beyond peptide clearance

Clearance

Enzymatic degradation (serum proteases; PEGylation slows proteolytic clearance)

Storage. Store refrigerated at 2-8C. Reconstituted solution should be used within 7-14 days. PEG-MGF is more stable than non-PEG form. Use bacteriostatic water for reconstitution.

Regulatory status

Not approved for human use by the FDA or any regulatory agency. Research chemical only. Listed as a prohibited substance by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).

Put it to work

Calculate, log & track

Open MGF straight into OnePin with your vial and dose pre-filled, then let it handle the syringe math and remind you before the vial runs out.

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Go deeper

The guide & community

The complete MGF walkthrough, real protocol discussion and coaching live inside the BlessUp community on Skool.

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