Effect of dopamine on renal blood flow, prostaglandins, renin and electrolyte excretion in normal and hypertensive humans.

A low dose of dopamine (1 microgram/min/kg) infused for 3 h, which is without systemic hemodynamic effects in normal subjects, increased the renal blood flow and renal production of prostacyclin (PGI2). This action was blocked by metoclopramide as well as by either of two cyclooxygenase (CO) blockers, but effects were not altered by administration of the alpha 1 blocker prazosin. Much of the effect of dopamine (DA) is apparently via the DA1 receptor, since fenoldopam (0.1 microgram/min/kg) reproduced these actions. However, although fenoldopam increased glomerular filtration rate and urinary Na+, CO blockers were without effect. In contrast neither DA or fenoldopam infusions changed either renal blood flow or PGI2 in a group of patients with essential hypertension. Renin secretion was shown to be increased via DA1 receptor activation both in humans and rat renal tissue. The DA2 receptor may also play a role since domperidone can reduce renal blood flow.