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Thermogenic and metabolic effects of dopamine in healthy men
Y Ruttimann1, Y Schutz, E Jéquier
1Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Objective:
To assess the thermogenic response of dopamine at three different infusion rates and to analyze its effects on various biochemical variables.
Design:
Randomized sequential experimental treatment bracketed by control periods.
Patients:
Eight young healthy male volunteers with normal body weight (51 to 89 kg).
Interventions:
Three experimental periods during which dopamine was administered iv in a randomized order at rates of 2.5, 5, or 10 micrograms/kg.min with one preinfusion baseline and two recovery periods in between.
Measurements And Main Results:
A significant (p less than .01) increase in resting energy expenditure was observed in response to the two highest dopamine infusion rates (5 and 10 micrograms/kg.min), corresponding to 6% and 15% median increases, respectively, as compared with preinfusion values. At the lowest dopamine infusion rate, no variation in resting energy expenditure was observed. Dopamine induced a significant (p less than .01) increase in hyperglycemia at all three infusion rates, and, at the highest infusion rate, dopamine induced a significant (p less than .05) increase of plasma free fatty acid concentrations. Insulin plasma concentrations were significantly (p less than .05 to p less than 0.1) increased at the three dopamine infusion rates.
Conclusions:
Dopamine infusion produces a dose-dependent thermogenic effect and induces various metabolic actions in man.