Dopamine induced relaxation of isolated canine renal, mesenteric, and femoral arteries contracted with prostaglandin F(2α)

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to develop a system for studying the effects of dopamine on isolated blood vessels. Canine renal, mesenteric, and small femoral arteries (less than 1 mm outside diameter) were exposed to phenoxybenzamine 10-5 M for 1 hr and contracted with prostaglandin F(2α). Cumulative concentrations of dopamine ranging from 10-6 to 10-4 M caused dose related relaxation of the arteries. Propranolol 10-6 M did not affect the relaxation in concentrations which markedly antagonized the effects of isoproterenol. Large femoral arteries (greater than 1 mm outside diameter) did not relax with similar concentrations of dopamine, N methyldopamine (epinine) produced similar relaxation; 3 methoxytyramine was inactive. Specific antagonism could not be demonstrated by the postulated dopamine antagonists - haloperidol, chlorpromazine, apomorphine, or bulbocapnine - in concentrations up to 10-5 M. Higher concentration of these agents could not be used because they caused the arteries to relax. This study demonstrated that PGF(2α) contracted arteries pretreated with phenoxybenzamine are suitable for further investigations of putative dopamine agonists and antagonists.