The maximum rates (V (max)) of some enzymatic activities related to energy consumption (ATP-ases) were evaluated in two types of synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) isolated from cerebral cortex of rats subjected to in vivo treatment with L: -acetylcarnitine at two different doses (30 and 60 mg kg(-1) i.p., 28 days, 5 days/week). The following enzyme activities were evaluated: acetylcholinesterase (AChE); Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+)-ATP-ase; ouabain insensitive Mg(2+)-ATP-ase; Na(+), K(+)-ATP-ase; direct Mg(2+)-ATP-ase; Ca(2+), Mg(2+)-ATP-ase; Low- and High-affinity Ca(2+)-ATP-ase. Sub-chronic treatment with L: -acetylcarnitine increased Na(+), K(+)-ATP-ase activity on SPM 2 and Ca(2+), Mg(2+)-ATP-ase activity on both SPM fractions. These results suggest (1) that the sensitivity to drug treatment is different between the two populations of SPM, confirming the micro-heterogeneity of these sub-fractions, probably originating from different types of synapses, (2) the specificity of the molecular site of action of the drug on SPM and (3) its interference on ion homeostasis at synaptic level.