Effect of dopamine on regional pulmonary perfusion.

Dopamine effect on regional pulmonary perfusion in the right upper lobe was studied in 6 dogs in which the lobe was isolated by a balloon catheter and artificially ventilated with nitrogen, air or 60% oxygen in nitrogen, while the rest of the lungs was allowed spontaneous air respiration. Dopamine was administered at the rate of 20 micrograms/kg/min. Each dog served as its own control. There was no change in the regional vascular responses to the different alveolar oxygen tensions in the right upper lobe before and after dopamine administration.