This page is reference information only. Most compounds described here are research chemicals, not FDA-approved medications. MyTRT does not sell, recommend, or endorse the use of these substances. Always consult a qualified physician.
AICAR
AMPK Activator (Nucleoside Analog)
/WHAT_IT_IS
AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside) is a cell-permeable adenosine analog converted intracellularly to ZMP, an AMP mimetic used to activate AMPK and interrogate cellular energy-sensing pathways.
/USAGE
Metabolic and exercise-mimetic research: glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, cardioprotection, and skeletal-muscle endurance models.
/MECHANISM_OF_ACTION
Phosphorylated to ZMP, which allosterically activates AMPK and inhibits AMP-degrading enzymes, elevating AMPK signaling (e.g., ACC phosphorylation, fatty-acid oxidation, GLUT4 translocation, PGC-1α programs).
Reported Benefits
- +Increases skeletal-muscle glucose uptake (insulin-independent)
- +Enhances fatty-acid oxidation and reduces lipogenesis
- +Activates mitochondrial biogenesis–associated gene programs
- +Useful as an exercise-mimetic/comparator in preclinical models
- +Enables cardiometabolic studies (e.g., ischemia–reperfusion)
Reported Side Effects
- −Potential hypoglycemia with excessive glucose disposal
- −Gastrointestinal discomfort or nausea
- −Headache or fatigue
- −Altered uric-acid/purine metabolism (hyperuricemia risk)
- −Elevations in liver enzymes or renal load at high dose/duration
/STACKED_WITH
/RESEARCH_NOTES
AICAR has AMPK-independent effects via purine/adenosine pathways—use genetic or pharmacologic controls (e.g., AMPKα loss-of-function). Monitor glucose, lactate, uric acid, and liver/renal panels in vivo.
/REFERENCE
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7777520//RELATED
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