Regulation of cytosolic free Na (Na-) was measured in isolated rabbit gastric glands with the use of a recently developed fluorescent indicator for sodium, SBFI. Intracellular loading of the indicator was achieved by incubation with an acetoxymethyl ester of the dye. Digital imaging of fluorescence was used to monitor Na1 in both acid-secreting parietal cells and enzyme-secreting chief cells within intact glands. In situ calibration of Na; with ionophores indicated that SBFI fluorescence (345/385 nm excitation ratio) could resolve 2 mM changes in Nal and was relatively insensitive to changes in K or pH. Measurements on intact glands showed that basal Nal was 8.5 ± 2.2 mM in parietal cells and 9.2 ± 3 mM in chief cells. Estimates of Na influx and efflux were made by measuring rates of Na, change after inactivation or reactivation of the Na/K ATPase in a rapid perfusion system. Na/ K ATPase inhibition resulting from the removal of extracellular K (K) caused Na1 to increase at 3.2 ± 1.5 mM/min and 3.5 ± 2.7 mM/min in parietal and chief cells, respectively. Na buffering was found to be negligible. Addition of 5 mM K. and removal of extracellular Na (Na4) caused Na1 to decrease rapidly toward 0 mM Na. By subtracting passive Na efflux under these conditions (the rate at which Na1 decreased in Na-free solution containing ouabain), an activation curve (dNaJNaJ for the Na/K ATPase was calculated.The pump demonstrated the greatest sensitivity between 5 and 20 mM Nal. At 37°C the pump rate was <3 mM/min at 5 mM Na1 and 26 mM/min at 25 mM Nal, indicating that the pump has a great ability to respond to changes in Nal in this range. Carbachol, which stimulates secretion from both cell types, was found to stimulate Na influx in both cell types, but did not have detectable effects on Na efflux. dbcAMP+IBMX, potent stimulants of acid secretion, had no effect on Na metabolism.