The present study was designed to investigate whether or not reduction of carnitine content could protect isoproterenol (ISP)-induced myocardial injury using 3-(2,2,2-trimethylhydrazinium) propionate (TMHP), gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase inhibitor. Rats were divided into 4 groups; the control group: untreated, the TMHP-1 group: TMHP (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally, and ISP (10 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously on the following day, the TMHP-7 group: TMHP (100 mg/kg) for 7 successive days, and ISP (10 mg/kg) on the eighth day, the ISP group: ISP (10 mg/kg) was administered. Rats were cervically dislocated 15 hours after ISP administration, and heart mitochondrial electron-transport activity (NADH-cytochrome c reductase, succinate-cytochrome c reductase, and cytochrome c oxidase) were measured enzymatically. Activity of succinate-cytochrome c reductase was not affected significantly by ISP, however, NADH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome c oxidase were significantly reduced in the ISP and TMHP groups. Administration with TMHP for 7 successive days lessened the reduction of the activities. Mitochondrial electron-transport system plays an important role in cellular energy transduction. These results suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ISP is related to carnitine-dependent fatty acid metabolism and that TMHP reduces the myocardial injury.