Description
Dobutamine is a β1-adrenergic agonist that also displays weak agonist activity at β2- and α1-adrenergic receptors. Dobutamine is a positive inotrope, stimulating sympathetic nervous system activity to increase cardiac output. Dobutamine is clinically used to treat heart failure and cardiogenic shock and is used in research models to induce cardiac dysfunction. Dobutamine also decreases GABAergic, glycinergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission to cardiac vagal neurons.