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Dopamine is a catecholamine and a key neurotransmitter in the body that affects the cardiovascular system by stimulating dopaminergic, beta-adrenergic, and alpha-adrenergic receptors. Its administration, particularly in clinical settings, can lead to the development of cardiac arrhythmias due to the increased heart rate and enhanced myocardial contractility it causes. The drug can alter the normal heart rhythm because it influences the sympathetic nervous system's activity on the heart.

While severe bradycardia and extreme hypertension may occur in certain contexts or with specific dosing, they are less commonly associated with dopamine's primary pharmacological effects compared to arrhythmias. Chest pain can occur but is often a symptom resulting from other underlying conditions, rather than a direct pharmacological effect of dopamine itself. Thus, the link between dopamine administration and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias makes it the most relevant choice in this context.