Metabolic changes during dopamine infusion in dogs.

The effects were investigated, in 12 dogs, of the infusion of dopamine 10 or 30 micrograms kg-1 min-1 on circulating glucose, glycerol, lactate and potassium concentrations. Both doses of dopamine produced in initial increase in blood glucose concentration (P less than 0.05) followed by hypoglycaemia (P less than 0.05). Lipolysis was stimulated as shown by an increase in plasma glycerol concentrations with dopamine 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1 (P less than 0.05) and dopamine 3 micrograms kg-1 min-1 (P less than 0.01). Blood lactate concentrations increased slightly in both groups, but this was significant (P less than 0.05) only in the dogs infused with dopamine 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1. Dopamine had no significant effect on the plasma potassium concentration.