Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 14, 2021
Low-dose dopamine: a physiologically based review
Paul J Schenarts1, Scott G Sagraves, Michael R Bard
1The Center of Excellence in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4354, USA. pschenar@pcmh.com
Background:
In an attempt to prevent or alter the course of acute renal failure, many surgeons continue to use low-dose dopamine. This article critically reviews the physiologic reasons why low-dose dopamine is not clinically efficacious.
Methods:
A critical review of English language literature.
Results:
The effect of dopamine on renal blood flow remains controversial. If dopamine does increase renal blood flow, the vascular anatomy of the kidney would limit its effectiveness. Rather than improving renal function, dopamine has been shown to impair renal oxygen kinetics, inhibit feedback systems that protect the kidney from ischemia, and may worsen tubular injury. Dopamine has not been proven useful in the prevention or alteration of the course of acute renal failure as a result of heart failure, cardiac surgery, abdominal aortic surgery, sepsis, and transplantation. Dopamine has been associated with multiple complications involving the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems.
Conclusions:
Based on the anatomy and physiology of the kidney, low-dose dopamine would not be expected to improve renal failure and this has been demonstrated by the lack of efficacy in clinical trials.
More Related Videos
06:45Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 4, 2021
11:26Assessment of Dopaminergic Homeostasis in Mice by Use of High-performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis and Synaptosomal Dopamine Uptake
Published on: September 21, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Pharmacodynamic Responses: Different Types
Pharmacodynamics: Overview and Principles
Most drugs' effects result from their interactions with drug receptors or targets within the body. These interactions trigger specific responses at the cellular or systemic level. Drug receptors can be found on the surfaces of cells or within...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Dose-Response Relationship: Overview