Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “DOPAMINE”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Dopamine D3 receptor modulation of dopamine efflux in the rat nucleus accumbens.

The effect of antipsychotics on electrically evoked dopamine efflux in the rat nucleus accumbens core and shell was investigated, using in vitro fast cyclic voltammetry. In the nucleus accumbens core, the dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist, (+/-)7-OH-DPAT ((+/-)-2-dipropylamino-7-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene), inhibited dopamine efflux with a pEC50 of 8.1. Clozapine, haloperidol, sulpiride and the selective dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, SB-277011-A, had no effect on dopamine efflux per se but all attenuated the (+/-)7-OH-DPAT-induced-inhibition of dopamine efflux, with pA2 values of 6.6, 7.9, 7.0 and 7.6, respectively. In the nucleus accumbens shell, (+/-)7-OH-DPAT inhibited dopamine efflux with a pEC50 of 8.3. Clozapine and SB-277011-A had no effect on dopamine efflux. In contrast, haloperidol and sulpiride significantly increased dopamine efflux through a D2 receptor-mediated mechanism. Clozapine, haloperidol, sulpiride and SB-277011-A attenuated the (+/-)7-OH-DPAT-induced inhibition with pA2 values of 7.3, 8.6, 7.6 and 8.2, respectively. These data demonstrate that dopamine efflux is modulated by both dopamine D2 and D3 receptors in the rat nucleus accumbens.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Differential effects of dopamine antagonists on evoked dopamine release from slices of striatum and nucleus accumbens in rats.

The effects of dopamine-receptor antagonists on electrically-evoked dopamine release were compared in the nucleus accumbens and striatal slices of rats. (-)-Sulpiride induced a concentration-dependent increase in the evoked dopamine release from both regions, the increase in the nucleus accumbens being significantly greater than that in the striatum. Clozapine also increased evoked dopamine release from the nucleus accumbens, but not from the striatum. The haloperidol-induced increase in evoked dopamine release from the nucleus accumbens was less than that from the striatum. These findings indicate that, in terms of dopamine transmission, (-)-sulpiride and clozapine, but not haloperidol, predominantly affect the nucleus accumbens rather than the striatum. We have previously reported that the contribution of D3 receptors to the regulation of dopamine release from dopamine nerve terminals is much greater in the nucleus accumbens than that in the striatum. (-)-Sulpiride and clozapine have relatively higher affinity for D3 receptors than does haloperidol. The regional differences in responsiveness of dopamine release to dopamine antagonists could be due to the different affinities to D2 or D3 receptors of the dopamine antagonists.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Dopamine agonists for cocaine dependence.

BACKGROUND: Cocaine is a major drug of abuse. Cocaine dependence is a common and serious condition, which has become nowadays a substantial public health problem. There is a wide and well documented range of consequences associated to chronic use of this drug, such as medical, psychological and social problems, including the spread of infectious diseases (e.g. AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis), crime, violence and neonatal drug exposure. Therapeutic management of the cocaine addicts includes an initial period of abstinence from the drug. During this phase the subjects may experience, besides the intense craving for cocaine, symptoms such as depression, fatigue, irritability, anorexia, and sleep disturbances. It was demonstrated that the acute use of cocaine may enhance dopamine transmission and chronically it decreases dopamine concentrations in the brain. Pharmacological treatment that affects dopamine could theoretically reduce these symptoms and contribute to a more successful therapeutic approach. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of dopamine agonists for treating cocaine dependence. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched: The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library, issue 4, 2000), MEDLINE (from 1966 - 2000), EMBASE (from 1980 - 2000), LILACS (from 1982 - 2000), PsycLIT (from 1974 - 2000), Biological Abstracts (1982 to 2000). Reference searching; personal communication; conference abstracts; unpublished trials from pharmaceutical industry; book chapters on treatment of cocaine dependence. SELECTION CRITERIA: The inclusion criteria for all randomised controlled trials were that they should focus on the use of dopamine agonists on the treatment of cocaine dependence. Trials including patients with additional diagnosis such as opiate dependence were also eligible. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The reviewers extracted the data independently and Relative Risks, weighted mean difference and number needed to treat were estimated. The reviewers assumed that people who died or dropped out had no improvement and tested the sensitivity of the final results to this assumption. MAIN RESULTS: Twelve studies were included, with 587 participants randomised. Amantadine and Bromocriptine were compared to placebo in most of trials. In two studies amantadine was directly compared to bromocriptine, while amantadine was compared to desipramine, an antidepressant in three. The main efficacy outcome presented was positive urine sample for cocaine metabolites, with no significant differences between interventions. When retention in treatment was assessed as an acceptability measure, it was found a similar rate of patients remaining in treatment in both placebo and active drugs. There were no significant differences in trials where participants had primary cocaine dependence or had additional diagnosis of opioid dependence and/or were in methadone maintenance treatment. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not support the clinical use of dopamine agonists in the treatment of cocaine dependence. Given the high rate of dropouts in this population, clinicians may consider adding psychotherapeutic supportive measures aiming to keep patients in treatment.

Amantadine↗
PubMed1985

The effects of dopamine and dopamine agonists on the release of 3H-GABA and 3H-5HT from rat nigral slices.

Only high micromolar concentrations of dopamine and dopamine agonists altered spontaneous and KCl-evoked release of 3H-GABA and 3H-5HT from rat nigral slices in vitro. Apomorphine (100 microM) and dopamine (100 microM) enhanced the spontaneous release of 3H-5HT but the effect of dopamine was not reversed by haloperidol (1 microM). Both apomorphine (100 microM) and dopamine (100 microM) enhanced the KCl-evoked release of 3H-5HT but these effects were not reversed by haloperidol (1 microM). Apomorphine (10-250 microM) and dopamine (10-250 microM) inhibited 3H-5HT uptake into nigral synaptosomal preparations in a concentration-dependent manner. Accordingly, a major portion of the apparent effect of these drugs on 3H-5HT release may be due to inhibition of 3H-5HT uptake. Dopamine (100 and 1000 microM), amphetamine (100 microM), apomorphine (100 microM) and 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxytetralin (ADTN; 100 microM) were without effect on the spontaneous release of 3H-GABA from nigral slices. Apomorphine (100 microM) and ADTN (100 microM) reduced the KCl-evoked release of 3H-GABA from substantia nigra, an effect antagonized by haloperidol (1 microM). However, amphetamine (100 microM) and dopamine (100-1000 microM) were without effect on KCl-evoked 3H-GABA release. These results suggest that only high concentration of some dopamine agonists can modulate 3H-5HT and 3H-GABA release in substantia nigra. However, dopamine either had no effect, or its actions were not reversed by dopamine receptor blockade, so it appears unlikely that dendritic dopamine release will influence GABA and 5HT release in substantia nigra.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cholinergic lesions of mouse striatum induced by AF64A alter D2 dopaminergic behavior and reduce D2 dopamine receptors and D2 dopamine receptor mRNA.

To determine whether dopamine receptors are expressed in acetylcholine-containing neurons intrinsic to the striatum, and to study further the interactions between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems, the irreversibly acting cholinergic neurotoxin, ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion (AF64A), was injected unilaterally into the mouse corpus striatum, and rotational behavior induced by dopamine agonists and certain molecular events associated with this lesion were determined 7 days after lesioning. Brains were analyzed for D2 dopamine receptors by autoradiography, using [3H](-)sulpiride as a ligand, and for D2 dopamine receptor mRNA and glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA by Northern blot analysis, using selective radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes. Choline uptake sites were determined by binding assays using [3H]hemicholinium-3, a selective choline reuptake blocker, as a ligand. Mice with intrastriatal injections of AF64A showed ipsilateral rotational responses to the non-selective dopamine agonist apomorphine and to the D2 dopamine agonists, pergolide and quinpirole, but not to the D1 dopamine agonist SKF 38393. This was associated with a significant reduction in D2 dopamine receptors in the ipsilateral striatum and a significant decrease in the amount of D2 dopamine receptor mRNA. That AF64A produced a relatively selective cholinergic deficit was supported by the evidence showing that AF64A lesions significantly reduced [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites but did not alter glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA. Further, hemicholinium-3, prevented the AF64A-induced changes in rotational behavior. These results suggest that striatal cholinergic interneurons contain D2 dopamine receptors and express the D2 dopamine receptor gene, and that these interneurons are involved in dopamine-mediated rotational behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Experimental hemiparkinsonism in the rat following chronic unilateral infusion of MPP+ into the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway--III. Reversal by embryonic nigral dopamine grafts.

In a previous study conducted over six months, we demonstrated that 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) the active metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, chronically infused (10 micrograms/24 h for seven days) into one median forebrain bundle of the rat can cause long-lasting damage to the nigrostriatal dopamine system. The present study was carried out in animals 18-19 months after MPP+ infusion to determine firstly, if the lesion was indeed permanent and secondly, if embryonic nigral dopamine suspension grafts implanted into the dopamine-denervated neostriatum can reverse the neurochemical and behavioural deficits induced by MPP+. All the animals within the MPP(+)-lesioned group showed robust contralateral and ipsilateral turning in response to apomorphine (0.05 mg/kg) and methamphetamine (2.5 mg/kg), respectively, at each time point of testing. In the grafted animals there was a progressive significant reduction in the number of rotations in response to both apomorphine and methamphetamine over the three-month test period. Autoradiographic analysis of [125I]sulpiride binding to striatal sections showed a 27% increase in dopamine D2 receptor density in the ipsilateral striatum of MPP(+)-lesioned animals. This increase in D2 receptor density was completely abolished by the dopamine grafts so that the D2 receptor density in the grafted striatum was similar to the contralateral striatum of MPP(+)-lesioned animals. This increase in D2 receptor density was completely abolished by the dopamine grafts so that the D2 receptor density in the grafted striatum was similar to the contralateral striatum of the grafted animals or the ipsilateral striatum of control non-lesioned animals. In all the animals of the lesioned and grafted groups there was a complete loss of dopamine neurons in the ipsilateral substantia nigra as demonstrated by tyrosine hydroxylase-immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization histochemistry. In all the animals that received nigral dopamine grafts, numerous cells were localized within the grafts which contained tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity and tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining showed a dense network of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibres within the grafted striatum. The results of the present study are important in two respects. Firstly, they demonstrate that MPP+ infusions into the rat nigrostriatal dopamine pathway can produce a permanent degeneration of nigral dopamine neurons. Thus, in animals assessed 18-19 months after the initial MPP(+)-lesion there was no significant behavioural or neurochemical compensation with time. Secondly, the results clearly show that embryonic nigral dopamine grafts implanted into the dopamine-denervated striatum can reverse the behavioural and neurochemical deficits induced by MPP+.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗
PubMed2006

Role of dopamine transporter (DAT) in dopamine transport across the nasal mucosa.

Dopamine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter necessary for motor functions. Its deficiency has been observed in several neurological disorders, but replacement of endogenous dopamine via oral or parenteral delivery is limited by poor absorption, rapid metabolism and the inability of dopamine to cross the blood-brain barrier. The intranasal administration of dopamine, however, has resulted in improved central nervous system (CNS) bioavailability compared to that obtained following intravenous delivery. Portions of the nasal mucosa are innervated by olfactory neurons expressing dopamine transporter (DAT) which is responsible for the uptake of dopamine within the central nervous system. The objective of these studies was to study the role of DAT in dopamine transport across the bovine olfactory and nasal respiratory mucosa. Western blotting studies demonstrated the expression of DAT and immunohistochemistry revealed its epithelial and submucosal localization within the nasal mucosa. Bidirectional transport studies over a 0.1-1 mM dopamine concentration range were carried out in the mucosal-submucosal and submucosal-mucosal directions to quantify DAT activity, and additional transport studies investigating the ability of GBR 12909, a DAT inhibitor, to decrease dopamine transport were conducted. Dopamine transport in the mucosal-submucosal direction was saturable and was decreased in the presence of GBR 12909. These studies demonstrate the activity of DAT in the nasal mucosa and provide evidence that DAT-mediated dopamine uptake plays a role in the absorption and distribution of dopamine following intranasal administration.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Methylphenidate elevates resting dopamine which lowers the impulse-triggered release of dopamine: a hypothesis.

How do 'stimulants' reduce hyperactivity in children and adults? How can drugs which raise extracellular dopamine result in psychomotor slowing of hyperactive children when dopamine is known to enhance motor activity, such as in Parkinson's disease? In summary, the hypothesis for the anti-hyperactivity effects of the stimulants is as follows: during normal nerve activity, extracellular dopamine levels transiently rise 60-fold. At low therapeutic doses (0.2-0.5 mg/kg) to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine reduce locomotion in both humans and animals. The drugs raise resting extracellular levels of dopamine several-fold, but reduce the extent to which dopamine is released with nerve impulses, compared to the impulse-associated release in the absence of the drug. This relatively reduced amplitude of impulse-associated dopamine would result in less activation of post-synaptic dopamine receptors which drive psychomotor activity. At higher doses, stimulants produce generalized stimulation of the nervous system, as a result of the very high concentrations of extracellular dopamine at rest, and the markedly increased release of dopamine with nerve impulses. These high levels of resting and pulsatile dopamine cause widespread stimulation of post-synaptic dopamine receptors, overcoming any concomitant presynaptic inhibition of dopamine release.

Central Nervous System Stimulants↗
PubMed2000

Dual effects of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine on aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, dopamine release and motor stimulation in the reserpine-treated rat: evidence that behaviour is dopamine independent.

The comparative effects of L-3,4-dihydroxphenylalanine (L-DOPA) on dopamine synthesis, release and behaviour were studied in the reserpine-treated rat. Acute administration of L-DOPA (25-200 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited the activity of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) in the substantia nigra and corpus striatum. The antiparkinsonian drugs budipine (10 mg/kg) and amantadine (40 mg/kg) enhanced AADC activity in these regions, and prevented or reversed AADC inhibition by L-DOPA. Dual probe dialysis revealed that low doses of L-DOPA (25-50 mg/kg) dose-dependently stimulated the release of dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in nigra and striatum, whilst high doses of L-DOPA (100-200 mg/kg) completely suppressed the release of dopamine, but not DOPAC. Sulpiride (50 microM) administered via the probes antagonized dopamine release in response to 25 mg/kg L-DOPA, but greatly facilitated release by 200 mg/kg L-DOPA. Dopamine release was blocked by the centrally acting AADC inhibitor NSD 1015, but facilitated by the central AADC activator budipine. In behavioural tests L-DOPA (plus benserazide, 50 mg/kg) only reversed akinesia at 200 mg/kg, and not at 25-100 mg/kg. Pretreatment with either NSD 1015 (100 mg/kg) or budipine (10 mg/kg) markedly potentiated the motor stimulant action of a threshold dose of L-DOPA (100 mg/kg). A combination of NSD 1015 (100 mg/kg) and benserazide (50 mg/kg) potentiated L-DOPA behaviour more effectively than either inhibitor alone. NSD 1015-facilitated L-DOPA behaviour was antagonized by sulpiride (100 mg/kg) and not by SCH 23390 (1 mg/kg), whereas budipine-facilitated L-DOPA behaviour was fully antagonized by SCH 23390 and only partially by sulpiride. These results show that behaviourally active doses of L-DOPA in the reserpinized rat are not accompanied by significant increases in extracellular dopamine and are therefore probably not dopamine mediated. We propose that L-DOPA is capable of directly stimulating dopamine D2 and possibly non-dopamine receptors, thereby inhibiting dopamine efflux presynaptically and promoting motor activation postsynaptically. A stimulant action of L-DOPA on motor behaviour, preferentially mediated by D1 > D2 receptors, suggests that L-DOPA may also be capable of yielding a dopamine-like response in the absence of detectable dopamine release. These findings are incorporated into a new model of L-DOPA's actions in the reserpinized rat, and their possible implications for our understanding of L-DOPA in Parkinson's disease are discussed.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed2001

Dopamine induces phenotypic differentiation or apoptosis in a dose-dependent fashion: involvement of the dopamine transporter and p53.

The effect of dopamine on the growth, phenotypes (morphological and biochemical) and programmed cell death (apoptosis) of the human neuronal NMB cell line was examined. Exposure to 20-50 microM of dopamine decreased cell growth, induced an apparent differentiated cell morphology and increased (3)H-dopamine uptake. At higher concentrations (100-300 microM) dopamine was neurotoxic and induced apoptosis, as reported previously. The observed effects of both low and high doses of dopamine were blocked by cocaine, which suggested involvement of dopamine transporters. Indeed, several experiments demonstrated the relationship between dopamine uptake of cells and their vulnerability to the toxic effect of dopamine. High concentrations of dopamine, which induced apoptosis, also increased p53 levels, detected by RT-PCR analysis and immunoblotting, whereas lower dopamine concentrations, which induced a differentiated phenotype, did not increase p53 immunoblotting. Dibutyryl-cAMP and dimethyl sulfoxide, which induced differentiation but not apoptosis of the NMB cells, did not increase p53 expression. These findings provide an insight into the role of dopamine, dopamine transporters and p53 in the differentiation and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons, which will further our understanding of neuronal development and neurodegenerative diseases.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2002

D1 dopamine receptor supersensitivity in the dopamine-depleted striatum results from a switch in the regulation of ERK1/2/MAP kinase.

Dopamine effects in the striatum are mediated principally through the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes, which are segregated to the direct and indirect striatal projection neurons. After degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine system, direct pathway neurons display a supersensitive response to D1 dopamine receptor agonists, which is demonstrated by the induction of immediate early genes (IEGs), such as c-fos. Here we show, using analysis of receptor-mediated signal transduction, including protein phosphorylation and induction of IEGs, that D1 dopamine receptor supersensitivity is attributable to a switch to ERK1/2/MAP kinase (extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase) in direct pathway neurons. Normally, in the dopamine-intact striatum, activation of ERK1/2/MAP kinase is shown to be restricted to indirect and not direct pathway neurons in response to stimulation of corticostriatal afferents. Moreover, in the dopamine-intact striatum, treatment with full D1 dopamine receptor agonists or stimulation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic afferents, both of which result in the induction of IEGs in direct striatal projection neurons, does not activate ERK1/2/MAP kinase. However, after degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, ERK1/2/MAP kinase is activated in direct pathway neurons in response to D1 dopamine receptor agonists either alone or when combined with stimulation of corticostriatal afferents. Inhibitors of MEK (MAP kinase kinase), which is responsible for phosphorylation of ERK1/2/MAP kinase, blocks D1 dopamine receptor agonist activation of ERK1/2/MAP kinase in the dopamine-depleted striatum, as well as the supersensitive induction of IEGs. These results demonstrate that dopamine input to the striatum maintains distinct forms of protein kinase-mediated gene regulation in the direct and indirect striatal projection neurons.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1988

Dopamine release and metabolism after chronic delivery of selective or nonselective dopamine autoreceptor agonists.

The metabolism and release of dopamine by rat mesostriatal and mesolimbic dopamine neurons were determined after 2 or 14 days of subcutaneous administration via Alzet minipumps of a selective (CGS 15855A) or nonselective (apomorphine) dopamine autoreceptor agonist. Bioassays and high performance liquid chromatography assays showed that each drug was accurately delivered for the 2- and 14-day periods. CGS 15855A levels in the plasma and brain increased with increases in the daily dose given, although plasma levels of CGS 15855A at 14 days were less than those at 2 days for each dose. Striatal dopamine metabolism and release, assessed with dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-methoxytyramine concentrations, respectively, were suppressed by 2-day treatments of 50-200 micrograms/day CGS 15855A or 250 micrograms/day apomorphine. These suppressions were potentiated by acute challenge with 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally of CGS 15855A or 2 mg/kg subcutaneously of apomorphine. In contrast, dopamine metabolism and release were unchanged after 14 days of administration of 40-400 micrograms/day of CGS 15855A or 250 micrograms/day of apomorphine, even when plasma levels of drug were as high as at 2 days. Dopamine release was decreased in only one of six groups 30 min after an additional acute injection of the agonist given for 14 days, whereas dopamine metabolism was decreased in five of six groups. Striatal dopamine levels were increased 20-57% after 14 but not 2 days of cgs 15855A followed by acute challenge with the vehicle or CGS 15855A injections. Thus, the responsiveness of dopamine neurons to the release-suppressing properties of dopamine autoreceptor agonists is mostly attenuated between 2 and 14 days of treatment. The ability of chronic CGS 15855A treatments to increase dopamine levels and, with acute CGS 15855A, to decrease DOPAC levels, indicates that autoreceptor control of dopamine metabolism is partly retained after chronic autoreceptor agonism.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Selective activation by LY-141865 and apomorphine of presynaptic dopamine receptors in the rat kidney and influence of stimulation parameters in the action of dopamine.

The presence and physiological role of presynaptic dopamine receptors in the isolated-perfused rat kidney was assessed by determining the effects of several agonists and antagonists on the release of [3H]norepinephrine elicited during periarterial nerve stimulation. In the presence of cocaine, dopamine caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of stimulus-induced release of [3H]norepinephrine at 0.5 and 2 Hz. Phentolamine as well as sulpiride caused partial antagonism of the inhibitory action of dopamine at 0.5 Hz (20 sec) and a combination of both of these agents was required to completely antagonize the action of dopamine. The inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine release caused by dopamine at 2 Hz (20 sec) was completely antagonized by sulpiride alone and phentolamine had no effect on the inhibitory action of dopamine. These results suggest that dopamine-induced inhibition of norepinephrine release depends on the conditions of stimulation, i.e., during lower frequencies of sympathetic nerve stimulation, inhibition occurs by simultaneous activation of both presynaptic dopamine receptors as well as alpha adrenoceptors, whereas only presynaptic dopamine receptors are responsible for the inhibition of neurotransmitter release caused by dopamine at the higher frequency of nerve stimulation. The dopamine receptor agonists apomorphine and LY-141865 caused concentration-dependent inhibition of [3H]norepinephrine release elicited during periarterial nerve stimulation at 0.5 Hz, which was antagonized by sulpiride but not by phentolamine, suggesting that selective stimulation of presynaptic dopamine receptors accounted for inhibitory actions of these compounds. In the presence of cocaine, norepinephrine also inhibited stimulus-induced release of [3H]norepinephrine at 0.5 Hz, which could be antagonized by phentolamine but not sulpiride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Renal effects of exogenous dopamine: modulation by renal nerves and dopamine receptor antagonists.

The modulation of the renal response to exogenous dopamine by renal denervation (DNX) and dopamine receptor antagonists was investigated in thiopental-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. Experiments were performed after reaching stable systemic hemodynamics and urinary flow rate. These conditions were obtained with an infusion rate of approximately 1.2% of body weight per hour. In the vehicle group (VHC) i.v. infusion of dopamine (1, 3 and 9 microg kg(-1) min(-1) significantly increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), assessed by renal clearance of [3H]inulin, by 14+/-1.5, 16+/-1.6 and 31+/-2.6%, respectively. Infusion of 1 and 3 microg kg(-1) min(-1) dopamine did not change systemic hemodynamics while the highest dose elevated heart rate, potentially contributing to the GFR increase. The specific D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 (10 microg kg(-l) min(-1) i.v.) did not affect the GFR response to dopamine infusion. In contrast, domperidone (DOM; 8 microg kg(-1) min(-1) i.v.), a specific, peripherally acting D2 antagonist, attenuated the glomerular hyperfiltration induced by the three doses of dopamine to 11+/-1.7, 13+/-2.2 and 16+/-2.6%, respectively. DNX diminished the GFR response to dopamine infusion to almost the same extent (11+/-2.8, 10+/-2.2 and 17+/-2.6%, respectively) as did DOM. When DNX animals were treated with DOM, the GFR responses to dopamine were further attenuated to non-significant increases. These additive effects of DOM and DNX suggest that two different mechanisms are involved. Both DNX and SCH 23390 decreased sodium excretion at baseline whereas DOM enhanced it. Under the present experimental condition, neither D1 nor D2 receptor blockade affected the natriuretic and diuretic response to dopamine. Whereas D1 receptors do not appear to be involved, both D2 receptors and renal nerves play a role in the renal hemodynamic response to dopamine, indicating involvement of both pre- and postsynaptical dopamine receptors.

Animals↗