Cardiovascular Effects of Dopamine in Developing Swine

Authors:
  • NBN.M. Buckley
    N.M. Buckley
  • PBP. Brazeau
    P. Brazeau
  • IFI.D. Frasier
    I.D. Frasier
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Abstract
Cardiac function and peripheral blood flows were measured before and during single intravenous injections of dopamine (2–25 μg/kg) in developing and mature swine anesthetized with pentobarbital. A positive inotropic effect was observed in even the youngest swine. Renal vasoconstriction was observed even after low doses of dopamine in animals younger than 1 month of age, and femoral vasoconstriction in animals younger than 2 weeks of age, unless α-adrenergic receptors were blocked by phentolamine. We concluded that the vasodilator responses to dopamine are slower to develop in the renal than in the femoral circulation.