ABSTRACT
The haemodynamic and autonomic nervous system effects of the DA2 agonist, SK & F 101468, have been studied in anaesthetised cats. SK & F 101468 inhibited the tachycardia response to cardiac accelerans nerve stimulation. The inhibition, reversed by L-sulpiride a selective DA2 receptor antagonist, was dose-dependent over the dose range 10-50 micrograms.kg-1 and there was proportionally greater inhibition of the responses to low rather than high frequency stimulation. There was evidence that SK & F 101468-A inhibited sympathetically mediated reflexes, but even at high doses, of up to 500 micrograms.kg-1, there was no inhibition of end-organ responsiveness to noradrenaline, isoprenaline or acetylcholine nor of the bradycardia caused by vagus nerve stimulation. SK & F 101468-A produced falls in blood pressure and heart rate at 50 and 500 micrograms.kg-1, but stroke volume, aortic blood flow and total peripheral resistance, were only slightly affected. These effects of SK & F 101468 in the intact cardiovascular system are consistent with an action on presynaptic receptors at sympathetic nerve endings to reduce transmitter release and thereby selectively reduce responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation.
