Cardiovascular effects of dopamine after central administration into conscious cats

Dopamine (30 and 45 mug) administered intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) to a group of 10 conscious normotensive cats caused dose-related increases in blood pressure and heart rate. In 4 of these animals the initial cardiovascular stimulant effects of i.c.v. dopamine were followed by hypotension and bradycardia. 2 alpha-Methyldopamine (30 and 45 mug i.c.v.) produced qualitatively similar responses to dopamine except that the cardiovascular stimulant effects were smaller and the secondary depressant effects somewhat more prolonged. 3 Both stimulant and depressant effects of i.c.v. dopamine and alpha-methyldopamine were greatly inhibited by autonomic ganglion blockade or by adrenergic neurone blockade. 4 The cardiovascular stimulant effects of both i.c.v. dopamine and i.c.v. alpha-methyldopamine were selectively inhibited by beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents whilst the cardiovascular depressant effects of these substances were abolished by the alpha-adrenoceptor blocker phentolamine or by the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor disulfiram. 5 Haloperidol by either i.c.v. or the intravenous route abolished both cardiovascular stimulant and depressant effects of i.c.v. dopamine, whilst pimozide by either route inhibited only the cardiovascular stimulant effects. 6 In 2 cats, injection of dopamine into the cisterna magna produced predominantly depressant effects on the cardiovascular system except with a higher dose which induced biphasic responses.