['To compare the effects of fenoldopam and dopamine on gastric mucosal and systemic oxygenation, and to identify the receptors involved.', 'Randomized controlled animal study.', 'University research department of experimental anesthesiology. SUBJECTS Seven anesthetized dogs with chronically implanted ultrasound flow probes around the pulmonary artery for continuous measurement of cardiac output.', 'On different days, the dogs received in random order either the selective DA(1)-agonist fenoldopam (0.1 and 1.0 microg x kg-1.= x min-1, with or without DA(1)-blocker pretreatment), dopamine (2.5 and 5.0 microg.kg-1 x min-1, with or without alpha(1)-blocker pretreatment), or saline (control).', 'We continuously measured regional microvascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation (muHbO(2)) in gastric mucosa by reflectance spectrophotometry, and systemic oxygen delivery. Fenoldopam increased gastric mucosal muHbO(2) by approximately 20%, and this effect was prevented by selective DA(1)-receptor blockade. In contrast, dopamine neither alone nor during alpha(1)-blockade altered muHbO(2). With respect to systemic measures of oxygen transport, fenoldopam had negligible effects, whereas dopamine (with and without alpha(1)-blocker pretreatment) dose-dependently increased cardiac output and systemic oxygen delivery by approximately 30%.'] Does fenoldopam -- but not dopamine -- selectively increase gastric mucosal oxygenation in dogs?