The β(3) Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist L-748,337 Attenuates Dobutamine-Induced Cardiac Inefficiency While Preserving Inotropy in Anesthetized Pigs

Excessive myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO(2)) is considered a limitation for catecholamines, termed oxygen cost of contractility. We hypothesize that increased MVO(2) induced by dobutamine is not directly related to contractility but linked to intermediary myocardial metabolism. Furthermore, we hypothesize that selective β(3) adrenergic receptor (β(3)AR) antagonism using L-748,337 prevents this. In an open-chest pig model, using general anesthesia, we assessed cardiac energetics, hemodynamics and arterial metabolic substrate levels at baseline, ½ hour and 6 hours after onset of drug infusion. Cardiac efficiency was assessed by relating MVO(2) to left ventricular work (PVA; pressure–volume area). Three groups received dobutamine (5 μg/kg/min), dobutamine + L-748,337 (bolus 50 μg/kg), or saline for time-matched controls. Cardiac efficiency was impaired over time with dobutamine infusion, displayed by persistently increased unloaded MVO(2) from ½ hour and 47% increase in the slope of the PVA–MVO(2) relation after 6 hours. Contractility increased immediately with dobutamine infusion (dP/dt (max); 1636 ± 478 vs 2888 ± 818 mmHg/s, P < 0.05) and persisted throughout the protocol (2864 ± 1055 mmHg/s, P < 0.05). Arterial free fatty acid increased gradually (0.22 ± 0.13 vs 0.39 ± 0.30 mM, P < 0.05) with peak levels after 6 hours (1.1 ± 0.4 mM, P < 0.05). By combining dobutamine with L-748,337 the progressive impairment in cardiac efficiency was attenuated. Interestingly, this combined treatment effect occurred despite similar alterations in cardiac inotropy and substrate supply. We conclude that the extent of cardiac inefficiency following adrenergic stimulation is dependent on the duration of drug infusion, and β(3)AR blockade may attenuate this effect.