Platelet adhesion to monomeric collagen types I and III, which were purified from human umbilical arteries, was studied in a perfusion chamber under well defined flow conditions. For this purpose, glass coverslips were coated with 20-30 micrograms/cm2 of collagen types I and III by spraying a solution of these collagens with a retouching air brush. Platelet deposition increased with the time of perfusion. Adhesion to both collagen types was similar in the first 3 min, but increased platelet deposition occurred on collagen type III after 3 min due to thrombus formation. Adhesion at a shear rate of 800 s-1 was strongly impaired with plasma of a patient with von Willebrand's disease or with fibronectin-free plasma. Addition of purified fibronectin to fibronectin-free plasma restored adhesion to the level obtained with normal plasma. Platelet deposition in normal plasma increased with increasing shear rates. Platelet deposition in VWD-plasma was normal at 490 s-1, but there was no increase at higher shear rates. Platelet deposition in fibronectin-free plasma was diminished at all shear rates studied from 490 to 1,300 s-1. Perfusion with a human albumin solution (HAS) to which purified Factor VIII-von Willebrand factor complex (FVIII-VWF) and fibronectin had been added gave similar platelet deposition as with normal plasma. Preincubation of collagen with FVIII-VWF and perfusion with HAS containing fibronectin, or, conversely, preincubation with fibronectin and perfusion with HAS containing FVIII-VWF, also resulted in adhesion similar to that observed in normal plasma. Similar adhesion was also observed after preincubation with both FVIII-VWF and fibronectin and subsequent perfusion with HAS alone. Sequential preincubations with first FVIII-VWF and then fibronectin, or with first fibronectin and then FVIII-VWF followed by perfusion with HAS, also gave a similar adhesion as observed with normal plasma. These data indicate that platelet adhesion to monomeric collagen types I and III is dependent on both FVIII-VWF and fibronectin. FVIII-VWF is only required at relatively high shear rates; fibronectin also at relatively low shear rates. Their complementary role in platelet adhesion suggests separate binding sites for FVIII-VWF and fibronectin on collagen. Platelet deposition on performed fibrils of collagen types I and III was also studied. Initial adhesion expressed as percentage surface coverage was similar to that found with monomeric collagen, but thrombus formation was much enhanced. Adhesion on fibrillar collagen at 800 s(-1) was impaired in VWD-plasma and fibronectin-free plasma, and was restored by addition of purified fibronectin to fibronectin-free plasma. When perfusions were performed with HAS, only addition of FVIII-VWF was required for optimal adhesion to fibrillar collagen; addition of fibronectin had no effect. These data are in contrast to the studies with monomeric collagens described above, in which the addition of both FVIII-VWF and fibronectin was required. These data are also in contrast to the observation that in plasma both FVIII-VWF and fibronectin are required for optimal adhesion to fibrillar collagen.