Effects of quinpirole on autonomic nervous control of heart rate in rats

The effects of quinpirole, a specific dopamine DA2 receptor agonist, on autonomic nervous control of heart rate, were studied in normotensive pithed rats, by analysing its action on the tachycardia and bradycardia evoked by electrical stimulation of the cardioaccelerator (10 V; 1 ms; 0.5, 1, 3, 6 Hz) and vagus (10 V; 1 ms; 3, 6, 9 Hz) nerves respectively. Quinpirole (10-50-100 micrograms kg-1 iv) reduced the cardioacceleration elicited by electrical stimulation but not that by noradrenaline (3 micrograms kg-1 iv). The effect on electrical stimulation was blocked by domperidone (0.5 mg kg-1 iv) but not by SCH 23390 (0.2 mg kg-1 iv) or idazoxan (0.3 mg kg-1 iv). At 1, 5, 10, 30 micrograms kg-1 iv, quinpirole decreased vagal but not acetylcholine-induced bradycardia. The effect on electrical stimulation was inhibited by domperidone (0.5 mg kg-1 iv) but not by SCH 23390 (0.2 mg kg-1 iv), prazosin (0.1 mg kg-1 iv) or idazoxan (0.3 mg kg-1 iv). The data point to the presence of presynaptic and/or ganglionic dopamine receptors in the sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation of the rat heart, where stimulation inhibits the release of neuromediators.