Selank

Historical Background

Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic heptapeptide analogue of the endogenous immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin, developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It was engineered to have anxiolytic and nootropic properties with significantly greater metabolic stability than tuftsin. Selank has been approved in Russia as an anxiolytic drug and has over 25 years of research, making it one of the most well-studied nootropic peptides from the Russian pharmacological tradition.

What It's Used For

• Anxiety and stress response research
• GABA-A receptor modulation studies
• BDNF and NGF upregulation research
• Cognitive enhancement and memory studies
• Immune modulation (tuftsin-derived activity)
• Depression and mood regulation models
• Comparison with benzodiazepines for non-sedating anxiolytic mechanisms

Positive Effects

• Anxiolytic without sedation — does not cause cognitive impairment seen with benzodiazepines
• Upregulates BDNF and NGF expression — neuroprotective
• Improves working memory and learning in animal models
• Modulates GABA-A receptor sensitivity
• Anti-depressant effects in chronic stress models
• Immune-modulating via tuftsin component (NK cell and macrophage activation)
• Reduces expression of anxiety-related gene expression in hippocampus
• Enhances serotonin and dopamine turnover in prefrontal cortex

Potential Side Effects

• Generally excellent tolerability profile
• Mild drowsiness in some subjects (much less than benzodiazepines)
• Mild nasal irritation with intranasal administration
• No dependency or withdrawal reported in animal studies
• No significant hormonal effects

Administration

Intranasal or subcutaneous injection. Intranasal research doses: 250–750 mcg per session. Subcutaneous: 250–500 mcg per injection. Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water (for subcutaneous use). Intranasal solution: sterile water at 0.15 mg/mL concentration. Store at 2–8°C.