Sodium-potassium movement and the regulation of cardiac muscle activity.

The changes in intracellular sodium activity and contractility produced by short-lasting application of a fast-acting cardiac glycoside were measured in guinea-pig ventricular muscle. It was found that under certain conditions the change in twitch tension paralleled the change in sodium activity. It is suggested that the electrogenic sodium pump may be involved in the regulation of both the mechanical and the electrical activity of cardiac muscle.