Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of dopamine on the intestinal mucosal blood flow and transport function. Dopamine was infused intravenously at 20 μg × kg-1 × min-1 in anesthetized cats. Total and intramural blood flow in an isolated jejunal segment was measured by a combined drop-flow and 85Kr clearance technique. Net fluid transport was recorded by two independent perfusion methods. Unidirectional sodium transport was estimated from luminal 22Na disappearance. Dopamine induced a pronounced mucosal vasodilatation up to 400% of control values. Concomitantly, net fluid and sodium absorption increased by 50%. The effect on sodium transport was due to a pronounced decrease in tissue-to-lumen sodium flux, a pattern similar to the one seen on (α-adrenergic stimulation. The effect of dopamine on blood flow was unaffected by phentolamine. 1 mg × kg-1, whereas the absorptive response was abolished. The findings indicate that dopamine induces a mucosal vasodilatation via one mechanism (possibly dopaminergic) and enhances fluid transport via another mechanism, probably α-adrenergic.