Dopamine release from the porcine myocardium

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Abstract
Dopamine is a catecholamine with profound influence on cardiac function and known to be present in adrenergic nerve terminals as a precursor of noradrenaline [norepinephrine]. However, no previous study has examined whether dopamine is produced by myocardial tissue. During stable hemodynamic conditions in 13 young, thoractomized pigs with the heart in situ, a net release of dopamine into the coronary sinus was found amounting to 1.39 .+-. 0.36 ng/min .cntdot. 100 g of left ventricular muscle mass (P < 0.01). Dopamine was released from the myocardium whether v-a difference for noradrenaline was positive or negative. A release of dopamine from the heart independent of sympathetic noradrenergic activity is indicated. Regulation of myocardial dopamine release remains unknown.