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Peptide Antagonists

Meaning

Peptide Antagonists are synthetic or naturally occurring short-chain amino acid compounds that bind to specific hormone or receptor sites, thereby blocking or mitigating the action of an endogenous signaling peptide. Unlike agonists, which activate a receptor, antagonists occupy the binding site without initiating the downstream cellular response. In clinical endocrinology, these compounds are strategically used to modulate overactive hormonal axes, such as suppressing excessive growth hormone release or blocking the effects of specific neuropeptides. They are powerful tools for fine-tuning hormonal balance and mitigating pathological overstimulation in a targeted manner.