THE DEPRESSOR ACTION OF DOPAMINE AND ADRENALINE

Abstract

Dopamine is a pressor agent in the spinal cat, but causes a fall of blood pressure in the guinea-pig and rabbit under urethane anaesthesia. When guinea-pigs and rabbits are injected with reserpine, which depletes the vessel walls of noradrenaline, dopamine then becomes pressor. If an intravenous infusion of noradrenaline is given the depressor action returns. An intravenous infusion of vasopressin does not have this effect. A strip of rabbit aorta is caused to contract by noradrenaline and by dopamine, but if dopamine is added at the height of a noradrenaline contraction it causes relaxation. Adrenaline causes a fall of blood pressure in the cat under ether with vagi cut. However, in a reserpine-treated cat its action is pressor. The depressor action is restored during an infusion of noradrenaline. Noradrenaline has thus been shown to cause a vasomotor reversal of dopamine and of adrenaline.