Effect of dopamine on bethanechol-stimulated gastric antral motility in dogs with gastric fistula.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dopamine on gastric antral motility in conscious dogs with gastric fistula, using intraluminal strain-gauge transducers. Infusion of bethanechol increased the motility with regard to both frequency and strength. Dopamine, an endogenous catecholamine, was used alone and in conjunction with selective blockade of adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors. The stimulated antral motility was dose-dependently inhibited by dopamine. The effect was significantly blocked by the peripherally acting dopaminergic blocker domperidone. The alpha-adrenoceptor blocker phentolamine reduced the effect of dopamine to some extent, but the reduction was not of statistical significance. The dopamine-inhibited motility was not altered by the beta 1-adrenoceptor blocker practolol or the beta 1 + beta 2-adrenoceptor blocker propranolol. This indicates that dopamine acts on gastric antral motility predominantly through dopaminergic receptors. beta-Adrenergic receptors, which are active in the impairment of gastric acid secretion, do not seem to be involved in the motility response. Dose-response investigations with five increasing doses of bethanechol and one dose of dopamine showed inhibition of a non-competitive type.