We investigated the susceptibility of sarcolemmal Na+K(+)-ATPase to singlet oxygen. The role of this enzyme is regulation of Na+ concentration and thereby membrane potential. Inhibition of Na+ pump would lead to intracellular Ca2+ overload therefore further aggravating the injury caused by free radicals. Incubation of isolated sarcolemmal vesicles with irradiated rose bengal (150 nM) resulted in 86 +/- 1% inhibition of Na+K(+)-ATPase activity and histidine (25-100 mM) protected the enzyme in a dose-dependent fashion whereas SOD, catalase or mannitol (.OH radical scavenger) did not have any effect. Also, the inhibition of Na+K(+)-ATPase activity was dependent on rose bengal concentration, intensity of irradiation, duration of light exposure, showing that inhibition was directly related to amount of singlet oxygen generated. These results show that singlet oxygen may have significant disruptive effects on sarcolemmal function and may represent an important mechanism by which the oxidative injury to the myocardium induces arrhythmogenesis.