Hemodynamic effects of intra-arterial infusions of catecholamines on the canine gastric circulation

The effects of intra-arterial infusions of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and isoproterenol upon right and left gastric blood flow were studied in anesthetized dogs. Blood flow was measured electromagnetically before and after adrenergic blockade. Infusion of epinephrine (0.05 mug Kg.(-1) min.(-1)) resulted in vasoconstriction (-50 +/- 6 ml. min.(-1)) with autoregulatory escape in the right gastric artery (RGA) and constriction (-41 +/- 8 ml. min.(-1)) followed by significant dilation (+ 56 +/- 10 ml. min.(-1)) in the left gastric artery (LGA). Alpha adrenergic blockade with phenoxybenzamine produced only a dilator response in both RGA and LGA to epinephrine infusion and beta adrenergic blockade resulted in a constrictor response with no autoregulatory escape. Norepinephrine infusions produced a constrictor response of similar magnitude as epinephrine but with little evidence of autoregulatory escape in either RGA and LGA. Alpha adrenergic blockade significantly attenuated this response in both circulations. Isoproterenol is a dilator in both circulations and its response is attenuated only by beta adrenergic blockade. This study demonstrates that the canine stomach has two regionally distinct circulations with the fundus and body exhibiting a greater dilator response than the antrum and pylorus.