Infection of permissive human embryo fibroblasts (MRC-5) with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) increased the number of copies of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase (the Na+ pump) in the plasma membrane, measured as ouabain-binding sites. The increase was preceded by cell enlargement by about 24 hr, becoming significant between 48 and 72 hr after infection. Reduction in Na+ or Cl- concentration in the culture media immediately after infection partially prevented the increase in the number of ouabain-binding sites. The effect was reversible upon restoring Cl- or Na+ to the incubation medium, but withdrawal of either ion at 24 or 48 hr PE failed to prevent the increase in the number of binding sites. These results suggest that the processes that resulted in the increase of copies of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase required both Na+ and Cl- during the first 24 hr PE. Amiloride and ethylisopropylamiloride, two inhibitors of Na+ transport mechanisms of the plasma membrane have been previously shown to reduce the amount of virus yields and to prevent the onset of cytomegaly (Fons et al., 1991, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 196, 89-96). We show here that these agents partially block the increase in ouabain-binding sites caused by HCMV infection.