Inhibition of Mitochondrial Carnitine Acylcarnitine Translocase-Mediated Uptake of Carnitine by 2-(3-Methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate)

The rate of mitoehondrial carnitine-carnitine exchange mediated by carnitine acylcarnitine translocase was measured by föllowing the uptake of L-[methyl-C]carnitine. It was demonstrated that the hypoglycaemic compound 2-(3^methyKcinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate causes a concentration-dependent decrease in the rate of the translocase-mediated transport of carnitine in guinea pig liver mitochondria. Apparent initial infhix rates were decreased by 20% at 0.3 mmol/1 2-(3-methyl-cinnamyl-hydrazono)-propionate, 38% at 0.5 mmol/1, and 75% at 2.0 mmol/1 of this compound. This finding may explain the previously observed inhibitory effects öf this substance on long^chain fatty acid oxidation, ketone body production and gluconeogenesis.