The expression of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in cultured chicken skeletal muscle can be altered by varying the demand for ion transport. Veratridine, an activator of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels, causes a specific transient increase in biosynthesis of the sodium pump that accounts for the doubling of the number of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase molecules in the sarcolemma (Wolitzky, B.A., and Fambrough, D.M. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 9990-9999). Here we report a study of veratridine-induced up-regulation, focusing upon alpha- and beta-mRNA levels and transcription rates. Myotubes normally express the alpha 1-isoform mRNA and the beta-mRNA at a molar ratio of 0.6 +/- 0.1 (S.D.). In the presence of veratridine, the beta-mRNA is transiently up-regulated approximately 3-fold. The kinetics of this increase parallel the rate of beta-subunit protein synthesis. The increase in beta-mRNA during up-regulation is accomplished by an increase in the transcription rate of the beta gene. The veratridine-induced increase in beta-mRNA is not blocked by cycloheximide. The alpha-mRNA also increases during exposure to veratridine, but this increase is very modest and occurs very late in the up-regulation process. The increased beta-mRNA results in over-production of beta-subunits, which we postulate drives more efficient assembly of alpha beta complexes, i.e. sodium pump molecules. As the up-regulated state is achieved the level of beta-mRNA falls abruptly, reflecting a marked decrease in beta-mRNA stability. Treatment of up-regulated myotubes with tetrodotoxin, a veratridine antagonist, results in rapid down-regulation of the sodium pump, while having little or no effect on the levels of alpha 1- and beta-mRNAs.