Responses to dopamine of isolated human and monkey veins compared with those of the arteries.

Isolated human gastroepiploic vein tributaries responded to dopamine only with contractions, whereas the gastroepiploic artery branches in the same region of the omentum responded with relaxations. Treatment with phentolamine converted the vein contraction to a relaxation, which was not influenced by propranolol but was abolished by droperidol. The relaxation was converted to a contraction by SCH23390 but unaffected by domperidone. Endothelium denudation abolished the relaxation caused by substance P but did not significantly alter the dopamine-induced relaxation. Dopamine increased the cyclic AMP content in the human veins. Monkey mesenteric, renal and portal veins and vena cava contracted in response to dopamine. Treatment with phentolamine converted the contraction to a slight relaxation in the mesenteric and renal veins; however, even in the presence of high concentrations of the alpha adrenoceptor antagonist, no relaxation was induced in the portal vein and vena cava partially contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. It is concluded that gastroepiploic veins and arteries in the human omentum respond quite differently to dopamine; the alpha adrenoceptor-mediated contraction predominates over the relaxation mediated via dopamine D1 receptor subtype in the veins, and vice versa in the arteries. Dopamine relaxes the human vein, possibly as a result of increased production of intracellular cyclic AMP by stimulation of D1 receptors. The predominant action of dopamine on alpha adrenoceptors may contribute to increasing venous return and cardiac output.