GRF(1-29)NH2 is degraded mainly by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) in plasma, resulting in inactivated GRF(3-29)NH2. To understand whether improving stability of GRF(1-29)NH2 in the plasma will result in enhanced stability in intestinal mucosal cells, stability of GRF(1-29)NH2 and [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)NH2 in rat intestine brush-border membrane and homogenate was examined. [desNH2Tyr1,D-Ala2,Ala15]-GRF(1-29)NH2, resistant to plasma DPP IV, was much more stable than GRF(1-29)NH2 in enterocytes. Gradient HPLC analysis, mass balance analysis and studies of inhibitor effects revealed that GRF(3-29)NH2 was the major metabolite of GRF(1-29)NH2 due to the action of DPP IV during incubation with brush-border membranes. It is concluded that the design of peptide analogues to resist plasma enzymes dramatically increases stability in intestinal epithelium.