Dopamine action and metabolism in the kidney.

Dopamine is one of the major natriuretic hormone. It acts as an autocrine or paracrine factor to inhibit Na+ transport in several tubular segments. Na+,K(+)-ATPase is an important target protein for dopamine. Studies of the tubular effects of dopamine have provided new information about the coupling of dopamine to intracellular signaling systems and about the molecular mechanism for dopamine interaction with other hormones. Several lines of evidence now suggest that abnormalities of the renal dopamine system can lead to salt-sensitive hypertension.