Cardiovascular actions of bromocriptine.

Bromocriptine lowers blood pressure in animals and in man. Results obtained in experiments performed in the dog and cat suggest three possible mechanisms of action: a) relaxation of vascular smooth muscle, principally in splanchnic and renal vessels, (b) inhibition of transmitter release from noradrenergic nerve endings, (c) central inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity. The effect of bromocriptine at each putative site of action can be explained in terms of dopamine receptor stimulation.