Effects of dobutamine on coronary circulation and cardiac metabolism of the dog.

Effects of (+/-)-4-[2-(3-p-hydroxyphenyl-1-methyl-amino)ethyl]pyrocatechol (dobutamine) on coronary circulation and cardiac metabolism were investigated using the heart in vivo and the isolated perfused heart of dogs. In the heart in vivo dobutamine 1--30 microgram/kg i.v. and 1--100 microgram i.c. produced dose-dependent increases in coronary perfusion pressure, coronary blood flow, heart rate and left intraventricular pressure. In the perfused heart dobutamine 10 microgram i.c. increased coronary flow, heart rate, cardiac contractility and myocardial oxygen consumption. Delta redox potentials decreased but did not show negative values. Propranolol 0.1 mg/kg i.v. and 0.1 mg i.c. inhibited these effects of dobutamine. Dobutamine shows basically the same actions as isoproterenol, but does not reduce the coronary perfusion pressure by the relatively high dose applied. The results suggest that dobutamine may have a selective adrenergic beta 1 receptor stimulating action on the heart and have a merit in maintaining the coronary perfusion pressure.