Effect of diazepam on the carnitine translocation in rat heart mitochondria

Diazepam acts as an inhibitor of the carnitine translocation through the mitochondrial inner membrane. Diazepam needs however to be added during the phase of exchange. If added during the loading phase and washed during the usual washing the diazepam still found in the mitochondrial fraction is not sufficient to exert any inhibition. Kinetic studies indicate a non-competitive inhibition and a complex carnitine-diazepam-translocase is likely to be formed.