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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Quantifying Acute Changes in Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity in Response to Central Nervous System Manipulations in Anesthetized Rats
Published on: September 11, 2018
Effect of epinine on tension of human renal arteries
R H Schwinger1, C Schulz, K Brixius
1Klinik III für Innere Medizin, Universität zu Köln, Germany.
Background:
The present study aimed to characterize the effects of epinine, the active metabolite of ibopamine on tension development in human renal arteries.
Methods And Results:
Experiments were performed on isolated human renal arteries rings obtained during surgery due to kidney tumors (n = 12). Epinine concentration-dependently relaxed isolated precontracted (PGF2 alpha) human renal artery rings (P < 0.05) in the presence of phentolamine, as effectively (epinine -30 +/- 4 mN, dopamine -31 +/- 5 mN) and with the same potency as dopamine (epinine EC50 0.7 mumol/l (0.4-1.2 mumol/l), dopamine 0.5 mumol/l (0.2-1.7 mumol/l). This effect was antagonized by the specific D1-receptor-antagonist SCH 23390. Effective beta-adrenoceptor antagonistic concentrations of propranolol did not affect epinine-induced vasorelaxation. In the absence of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor-antagonists the potency of epinine to contract renal artery rings was significantly higher compared to dopamine indicating a higher affinity of epinine to alpha-adrenoceptors.
Conclusion:
The present study provides evidence for direct vasodilatory effects of epinine via activation of D1-receptors on human renal arteries.
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