Domperidone treatment in man inhibits the fall in plasma renin activity induced by intravenous gamma-L-glutamyl-L-dopa.

The dopamine pro-drug gamma-L-glutamyl-L-dopa (gludopa) was administered intravenously to six normal subjects at a dose of 12.5 micrograms min-1 kg-1, either with or without the dopamine antagonist domperidone. A control was provided by the intravenous infusion of domperidone and saline on a separate occasion. Intravenous gludopa produced a significant natriuresis, whether administered alone or in combination with domperidone. After gludopa infusion, there was a significant fall in plasma renin activity, an effect which was attenuated significantly by concomitant treatment with domperidone. These observations suggest that blockade of renal DA2 dopamine receptors has little or no effect on gludopa-induced natriuresis, but that at least part of the dopaminergic inhibition of renin release is mediated by renal DA2 receptors.