In the perfused rat liver administration of glucagon was shown to result in a transiently increased uptake of K+, indicating the possible involvement of the Na+, K+-ATPase. Direct measurement of the activity of Na+, K+-ATPase revealed a two-fold stimulation of the enzyme by glucagon. The effect of glucagon on the activity of the enzyme was immediate. Simultaneously with the increase in the activity of the Na+, K+-ATPase, the activity of Mg2+-ATPase decreased. In order to evaluate whether the activation of the Na+, K+-ATPase by glucagon is related to the metabolic effects of the hormone, experimental conditions known to interfere with the activity of the enzyme were employed and glucagon stimulation of Ca2+-efflux, mitochondrial metabolism and gluconeogenesis were measured. K+-free perfusate, high K+ perfusate or ouabain interfered to varying degrees with the glucagon stimulation of these responses. The combination of K+-free perfusate and ouabain almost completely abolished the glucagon stimulation of all three parameters. These results demonstrate the glucagon stimulation of Na+, K+-ATPase and raise the possibility that the activation of the enzyme by glucagon might be a necessary link for the manifestation of its metabolic effects.