Renal, cardiac, and systemic hemodynamic effects of the dopamine receptor agonist SK&F 85174 in anesthetized dogs

SK&F 85174 is a mixed DA‐1/DA‐2 receptor agonist which is shown to inhibit sympathetic neurotransmission and cause hypotension in anesthetized animals. In this study, we have determined the regional and systemic hemodynamic effects of an intravenous infusion of SK&F 85174 (5 μg/kg/min for 5 min) in pentobarbital‐anesthetized dogs and attempted to identify the dopamine receptor subtype(s) involved in the cardiac as well as vascular effects of this compound. SK&F 85174 produced significant decreases in mean blood pressure (MBP), left ventricular pressure (LVP), left ventricular dp/dt, total peripheral resistance (TPR) and renal vascular resistance (RVR), and a significant increase in renal blood flow (RBF). There were no significant changes in heart rate, cardiac output, coronary blood flow, or coronary vascular resistance. Prior treatment with SCH 23390 (DA‐1 receptor antagonist) significantly attenuated the effects of SK&F 85174 on MBP, LVP, TPR, RBF, and RVR. In a second group of dogs S‐sulpiride (DA‐2 receptor antagonist) significantly antagonized the effects of SK&F 85174 on MBP, LVP, and dp/dt, but did not influence its effects on RBF, TPR, and RVR. These results show that (a) a decrease in total peripheral resistance and not the cardiac output accounts for the hypotensive action of SK&F 85174, (b) the renal hemodynamic effects of SK&F 85174 are mediated primarily via the activation of DA‐1 receptors, and (c) whereas DA‐1 receptors are involved primarily with the hypotensive action of this compound, it appears that activation of DA‐2 receptors also contributes to the hypotension.