SELANK

What is Selank?

Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin, an endogenous tetrapeptide that plays a role in regulating the immune system. Some researchers informally classify Selank as a nootropic—a compound that can enhance cognitive function, improve memory, and increase mental clarity.

Selank was developed in the early 1990s at the Russian Academy of Sciences and has primarily been studied for its anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects. It is believed to work by modulating neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. With these mechanisms, Selank can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calmness without causing sedation or impairing cognitive function.

In addition to its anxiolytic properties, Selank has also been studied for its potential benefits in reducing pain and inflammation, while enhancing the immune system. It has shown promise in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and cognitive impairments.

What Does Selank Do?

Selank has profound effects on cognition and is believed to act through the GABAergic system. In rat studies, Selank administration has been shown to alter the gene expression of GABA receptors, causing them to have a greater affinity for GABA. This enhances GABA’s ability to inhibit excitability in the CNS similar to the administration of benzodiazepines—although, crucially, without their associated side effects and addictive potential.

Selank also appears to provide protection against alcohol-induced memory loss that occurs when brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increases in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. In an experiment where rats were given only alcohol to drink for 30 weeks, rats who were also given Selank performed better on object recognition tasks, did not exhibit the same memory and attention deficits, and did not have increased BDNF compared to the untreated rats.

Selank Benefits

Selank is a dynamic peptide with an array of potential applications. Fortunately, Selank has been applied in multiple human studies along with in vitro and in vivo experiments, giving researchers some idea of how subjects may respond to Selank administration.

Selank for Anxiety Reduction: Selank is reported to have anxiolytic effects, which may help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calmness.

In a 2008 study, patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and neurasthenia were divided into two groups. One group of 30 patients was treated with Selank, while another group of 32 patients was treated with Medazepam, a long-acting benzodiazepine. While both drugs decreased the patients’ anxiety (as measured by a standardized psychometric assessment), Selank also increased levels of enkephalins that were low in the GAD patients.

Selank may also have a synergistic effect when co-administered with certain other medications that treat anxiety. Filatova et al. (2017) performed an experiment on human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells to assess if the interaction of Selank on the gene expression in the GABAergic system would increase the effectiveness of either exogenous GABA and/or olanzapine treatment.

Selank alone did not significantly alter gene expression in IMR-32 cells. However, when Selank and GABA were administered together, Selank did improve the ability of GABA to bind with its receptors. Selank also improved the weak affinity of olanzapine for the GABA receptor, possibly due to how Selank modulates the GABA receptors

 Selank for Stress Relief: Selank may help alleviate stress and improve stress resilience. It is believed to affect the release of stress-related hormones, such as cortisol, and may help regulate the body's response to stressors.

In one study, researchers exposed rats to stressors to induce corticosterone-related stress responses. The rats who received Selank injections showed less elevation of corticosterone and its negative biological impact along with quicker adaptation to the stressors.

A study from 2022 explored the effectiveness of both Selank and Semax (another neuropeptide) in correcting stress-induced immunoreactivity in rats. Stress is known to cause immune system dysfunction as it hyperactivates some aspects of immunity while suppressing others, resulting in immune disorders and allergies, which further increase stress on the organism. Semax and Selank both restored healthy immune function when individually applied to the stressed animals

 Selank for Cognitive Enhancement: Some studies suggest that Selank may have cognitive-enhancing effects such as improving learning, memory, and attention.

An experiment on learning-disabled rats showed that the administration of Selank significantly and progressively improved their learning, memory, and problem-solving. A later study on rats showed that Selank increased memory trace stability when administered during the consolidation stage of learning, possibly due to how it affects serotonin metabolism in the brain.

Brain damage resulting from oxygen deprivation during gestation can severely impair the development and cognitive abilities of the foetus. Selank has been shown in some rat studies to partially attenuate the effects of antenatal hypoxia and other early-life neurological damage, allowing for marked increases in learning ability, improved sensory attention, and balanced monoamines in the brain

Selank Dosing and Cycling

Intranasal administration

Selank nasal spray is the delivery method preferred by most researchers. Not only does this method remove complications, but it also allows Selank to pass through the blood-brain barrier for quick and potent effects in the central nervous system.

Selank nasal sprays are available in different dosage concentrations, and researchers may also choose to reconstitute lyophilized Selank to achieve a custom dilution. The peptide is fast-acting and its effects seem to vary in intensity and duration among individual subjects.

Experts suggest a daily nasal spray dose ranging from 750mcg to 1mg. Administration can be split into two or three doses throughout the day

Subcutaneous injections

The second preferred method of delivery for Selank is a subcutaneous injection into adipose tissue. Selank injections work more slowly than intranasal sprays for potentially longer-lasting effects. Selank injections should be administered once per day at a dose from 150mcg to 300mcg. 

While researchers have not concluded on the necessity of cycling Selank, the most important consideration for Selank administration seems to be the need to continue dosing for at least two weeks to see desired outcomes.

Selank Cycling

While there is no convincing evidence that Selank must be cycled, it is best to err on the side of caution and give research subjects a week-long break after every one-two weeks of administration.