# Epitalon Dosage in the Research Literature > Epitalon dosage in published studies ranges from 0.1 µg/mouse subcutaneous in rodent models to 0.5-1 mg/day parenteral courses in Russian clinical observations. What the research literature reports on epitalon dose, route, and cycle length. ## Epitalon Dosage Ranges Reported in the Literature Epitalon dosage across the published literature varies substantially by species, experimental model, and administration goal. The following are research-context descriptions — not protocols for human use. **Rodent studies (subcutaneous injection, aging and lifespan models):** - 1 µg per mouse, subcutaneous, 5 consecutive days per month: SHR mice lifespan study [4] - 0.1 µg per mouse, 5 times per week for 6.5 months: C3H/He carcinogenesis study [8] **In vitro (human fibroblast and oocyte studies):** - Concentrations sufficient to induce hTERT expression; specific concentrations not published in abstracts [1][2] - 0.1 mM in vitro: mouse oocyte protection studies [17] **Russian clinical observation courses:** - Parenteral courses typically described as 10-20 day courses given annually or semi-annually [9][10] - Per-injection doses not consistently reported in accessible abstracts **No formal pharmacokinetic study exists for epitalon in humans.** As a tetrapeptide (390.35 Da), epitalon is subject to rapid proteolytic degradation in plasma consistent with short-peptide pharmacokinetics (minutes to hours). ## How Long Does Epitalon Take to Work in Research Models? In animal studies, measurable changes in telomere length have been observed after 10-day treatment courses, with biological effects persisting for weeks to months following the treatment period as extended telomeres propagate through cell divisions [21]. For pineal effects, the melatonin-normalization findings in primate studies emerged over treatment course periods [11][12]. ## Timing of Epitalon Administration in Research Protocols Research protocols vary. Some researchers administered courses in the evening given epitalon's proposed melatonin-modulating effect. No comparative human study has directly tested morning versus evening administration on any measured outcome. ## Epitalon Cycling Protocols in the Research Literature Epitalon cycle protocols follow a consistent pattern: courses of defined duration, administered one to two times per year rather than continuously. The proposed biological rationale: telomere extension requires cellular proliferation after telomerase activation. Continuous administration offers no incremental benefit once telomerase has been transiently activated [21]. Russian researchers typically ran one to two 10-day cycles per year in aging subjects [9]. ## Subcutaneous vs. Intramuscular Administration Most published protocols use subcutaneous injection. The Russian human clinical courses are described as parenteral without consistently specifying subcutaneous versus intramuscular. No comparative bioavailability study specific to epitalon has been published. Intranasal delivery was investigated in a rat neocortex study: intranasal epitalon produced neocortical neuron activation [18]. This route is not used in the aging or telomere studies. ## Reconstitution and Storage In laboratory protocols: reconstitute lyophilized epitalon with bacteriostatic water, store refrigerated at 2-8°C, use within 2-4 weeks. Lyophilized powder is stable at -20°C for extended periods. Freeze-thaw cycling degrades peptide integrity. ## References [1] Khavinson VKh, et al. Epithalon peptide induces telomerase activity. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2003. PMID 12937682. [2] Khavinson VKh, et al. Peptide promotes overcoming of the division limit. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004. PMID 15455129. [4] Anisimov VN, et al. Effect of Epitalon in SHR mice. Biogerontology. 2003. PMID 14501183. [8] Kossoy G, et al. Effect of epitalon in C3H/He mice. In Vivo. 2006. PMID 16634527. [9] Khavinson VKh, Morozov VG. Peptides prolong human life. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2003. PMID 14523363. [10] Korkushko OV, et al. Normalizing effect on melatonin rhythm. Advances in Gerontology. 2007. PMID 17969590. [11] Khavinson V, et al. Epitalon restores neuroendocrine regulation. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2001. PMID 11524632. [12] Korkushko OV, et al. Effect of epithalamin on circadian melatonin. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004. PMID 15452611. [17] Yue X, et al. Epitalon protects mouse oocytes. Aging (Albany NY). 2022. PMID 35413689. [18] Sibarov DA, et al. Intranasal epitalon on neuron activity. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2007. PMID 17955380. [21] Overview of Epitalon — Highly Bioactive Pineal Tetrapeptide. Int J Mol Sci. 2025. PMID 40141333. --- Twenty-five years of epitalon findings — counted, cited, and indexed as a research record. Not a clinic.