Incorporation of the saxitoxin receptor of the sodium channel solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified 250-fold from rat brain into phosphatidylcholine vesicles is described. Fifty to 80% of the saxitoxin receptor sites are recovered in the reconstituted vesicles (KD = 3 nM). Unlike the detergent-solubilized saxitoxin receptor, the reconstituted saxitoxin binding activity is stable to incubation at 36 degrees C. Approximately 75% of the reconstituted saxitoxin receptor sites are externally oriented and 25% are inside-out. The initial rate of 22Na+ uptake into reconstituted vesicles is increased up to 3- to 4-fold by veratridine with a K0.5 of 11 microM. Seventy per cent of this increase is blocked by external tetrodotoxin (TTX) with a Ki of 10 nM. All of the veratridine-stimulated 22Na+ uptake is blocked when TTX is present on both sides of the vesicle membrane, or when tetracaine is added to the external medium. The apparent binding constants for veratridine, saxitoxin, and TTX are essentially identical to those in intact rat brain synaptosomes. The results demonstrate reconstitution of sodium transport, as well as neurotoxin binding and action, from substantially purified sodium channel preparations.