Are the effects of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine infusions on VO2 and metabolism transient?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine have persistent actions on VO2 and metabolism.

DESIGN

Descriptive laboratory investigation.

SETTING

Laboratory of the Department of Anaesthesiology at a University Hospital.

SUBJECTS

9 volunteers.

INTERVENTION

VO2 and the plasma concentration of glucose and free fatty acids were measured prior to and during a 4 h infusion of saline (control), noradrenaline (0.14 microgram/kg min) adrenaline (0.08 microgram/kg min) or dopamine (7 micrograms/kg min), n = 9 each. VO2 was measured using an open circuit gas exchange system.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

VO2 increased from 250 +/- 22 ml/min to 280 +/- 38 ml/min during noradrenaline, to 298 +/- 30 ml/min during adrenaline and to 292 +/- 39 ml/min during dopamine infusion. The plasma glucose concentration increased from 6.2 +/- 0.6 mmol/l to 8.8 +/- 0.8 mmol/l, 13.2 +/- 1.4 and 7.3 +/- 0.4 mmol/l during infusion of noradrenaline, adrenaline or dopamine, respectively. The plasma free fatty acid concentration increased from 0.28 +/- 0.10 mmol/l to 0.79 +/- 0.21 mmol/l during noradrenaline and to 0.52 +/- 0.09 mmol/l during dopamine. In contrast, free fatty acid values averaged baseline values at the end of the adrenaline infusion after an initial increase to 0.72 +/- 0.31 mmol/l.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of noradrenaline, adrenaline or dopamine resulted in persistent increases in VO2 in volunteers. With the exception of the transient adrenaline effect on fatty acids the metabolic actions were steady during 4 h of adrenergic stimulation. Since the adrenergic effect on VO2 is persistent over time a similar action in patients (e.g. septic shock) during treatment with adrenoceptor agonists may be important. Thus, an increase in VO2 during therapy may not only reflect an oxygen debt but also a pharmacodynamic action of adrenoceptor mediated calorigenic and metabolic induction.