Isolated rat hepatocytes depleted of ATP with NaN3 without ligand lose galactosyl (Gal) receptors from the cell surface and accumulate inactive receptors within the cell [McAbee, D. D., & Weigel, P. H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 1942-1945]. Here, we describe the kinetics of receptor redistribution and inactivation after ATP depletion with NaN3 and of receptor redistribution and reactivation after ATP recovery. Only intact cells (greater than 98% viable) isolated from Percoll gradients were assayed. Gal receptor activity and protein were measured by the binding of 125I-asialoorosomucoid (125I-ASOR) and 125I-anti-Gal receptor IgG (125I-IgGR), respectively, at 4 degrees C. Surface and total (surface and intracellular) cellular Gal receptors were measured in the absence or presence, respectively, of digitonin. Following ATP depletion, 60-70% of Gal receptor activity and protein were lost from cell surfaces with first-order kinetics (t1/2 = 6.5 min, k = 0.107 min-1) at an initial rate of 11,000 125I-ASOR binding sites cell-1 min-1. Lost cell-surface Gal receptors were transiently recovered still active inside the cell. After a short lag, total cellular receptor inactivation then proceeded with first-order kinetics (t1/2 = 13 min, k = 0.053 min-1) at an initial rate of 14,000 125I-ASOR binding sites cell-1 min-1. Up to half of all cellular Gal receptors were inactivated by 40 min. 125I-IgGR binding to NaN3-treated, permeable cells, however, was virtually constant. The distribution of total cellular receptors changed from 35% on the cell surface initially to 10% after 40 min of ATP depletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)