Alpha-adrenergic effects of dopamine and dobutamine on the coronary circulation

After beta-adrenergic blockade, dopamine causes coronary vasoconstriction that is blocked by non-selective alpha-adrenergic antagonists. This study was carried out to determine the relative importance of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors in mediating coronary vasoconstriction in response to dopamine. Because dobutamine has been reported to cause alpha-adrenergic stimulation, the response to dobutamine was also examined. The circumflex coronary artery was cannulated and perfused at a constant blood flow rate in 14 dogs; coronary vasomotor responses were assessed from changes in perfusion pressure. Central effects were eliminated by vagotomy and stellate ganglionectomy; propranolol (1 mg/kg i.v.) was administered to block beta-adrenergic effects. The coronary responses to intracoronary bolus doses of dopamine and dobutamine were determined; the effects of selective alpha 1-blockade with prazosin (600 micrograms/kg i.v.) and selective alpha 2-blockade with idazoxan or rauwolscine (1-5 micrograms/kg per min intracoronary for 10 min) were examined. Dopamine produced dose-related coronary vasoconstriction; this response was not significantly altered by alpha 1-blockade with prazosin, but was abolished by the addition of alpha 2-adrenergic blockade with idazoxan or rauwolscine. Dobutamine did not produce coronary vasoconstriction at any dose tested. These data demonstrate that coronary vasoconstriction produced by dopamine is mediated through postjunctional alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.