Role of dopamine2-receptors in mediating renal vascular response to low dose dopamine infusion in the rat.

The effects of the interaction of dopamine (DA) and the DA2-receptors on regional blood flows and cardiac output have been studied in the rat. By means of the microsphere technique the blood flow (BF) and vascular resistance (VR) were determined in the kidney, duodenum, spleen, liver, and lung during infusion of DA in the absence and presence of selective DA2-receptor blockade with S-Sulpiride (S-SP), and during infusion of a selective DA2-receptor agonist (LY-171555, LY). In order to evaluate the role of the presynaptic DA2-receptor, the experiments were performed without alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade. Dopamine was given in such low doses that stimulation of the adrenergic receptors should be negligible. Dopamine, LY and DA + S-SP did not significantly influence BF and VR in the spleen, liver and lung. Dopamine significantly increased BF and decreased VR in the kidney and the duodenum; LY significantly increased BF in the the kidney but not in the duodenum and decreased VR in both the kidney and the duodenum. In the presence of selective DA2-receptor blockade, DA did not significantly influence BF or VR in the kidney but in the duodenum BF increased and VR decreased to the same extent as in the absence of blockade. In conclusion; the kidney and the intestine are more abundantly supplied with vascular DA-receptors than other organs. In the kidney the interaction between DA and the DA2-receptors significantly contributes the the DA-induced vasodilation. The interaction between DA and the DA2-receptors is of less importance for the DA-induced vasodilation in the intestine.