The Na + /Ca 2+ exchange is a plasma membrane system for the countertransport of Na + and Ca 2+ ions. The system can transport Ca 2+ both into and out of the cell and therefore it plays a crucial role in the calcium homeostasis. The system works in electrogenic way (3 Na + are exchanged for 1 Ca 2+ ) and thus it influences the electrogenic properties of excitable cells. Due to new techniques of electrophysiology and molecular biology a lot of information about transport mechanism, regulation and possible physiological and pathophysiological roles of the exchanger was accumulated. This review summarises new findings and shows progress in this attractive field of biological research.

        Key words: Na +/Ca 2+exchange, membrane transport, calcium homeostasis