The effect of fatty acid and acylcarnitine on Ca2+ and Na+ transporting enzymes and carriers was studied in sealed cardiac sarcolemma vesicles of mixed polarity. Palmitoylcarnitine markedly reduced the Na+ gradient-induced Ca2+ uptake. Half-maximal reduction was obtained at 15 microM of the carnitine derivative. In a same concentration range palmitoylcarnitine caused a rapid release of accumulated Ca2+ when added to Ca2+-filled vesicles, which suggests that palmitoylcarnitine increases the permeability of the sarcolemma vesicles to Ca2+. A rapid release of Ca2+ was also observed if Ca2+ was taken up by action of the Ca2+ pump. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, which most likely drives this active Ca2+ uptake, was 90% increased by 50 microM palmitoylcarnitine and evidence was presented that the acylcarnitine effect again was linked to an alteration of Ca2+ permeability of the vesicles. At the same concentration acylcarnitine was not able to unmask the latent protein kinase, so that probably the sarcolemma ATP permeability was not affected. Palmitoylcarnitine at 25 microM did not affect the ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+) -ATPase in native sarcolemma vesicles, however, it inhibited markedly if the enzyme was measured in SDS-treated vesicles. The effect of increased free fatty acid concentration on some of the sarcolemma transporting properties was tested by adding oleate-albumin complexes with different molar ratios to the sarcolemma vesicles. In contrast to molar ratios 1 and 5, the ratio of 7 was able to induce a rapid Ca2+ release and to inhibit (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in either native or SDS-treated vesicles markedly. 22Na release from 22Na-preloaded sarcolemma vesicles was shown to be stimulated by either palmitoylcarnitine (50 microM) or oleate-albumin complex (with a molar ratio of 7). The possible significance of the observed effects of lipid intermediates on ion permeability and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in isolated sarcolemma vesicles for the derangement of cardiac cell function in ischemia is discussed.