1. An optical method used for measuring platelet aggregation was adapted for measurements of the change in shape of platelets that rapidly follows the addition of the aggregating agent adenosine diphosphate (ADP).2. Measurements were made using dilute suspension of platelets with sufficient EDTA to prevent their aggregation.3. Measurements of the velocity and magnitude of the optical effects of the shape change were highly reproducible.4. Volumetric measurements showed that the shape change is not associated with an increase in mean platelet volume.5. The velocity of the shape change had a temperature coefficient of about 4.5.6. The velocity and magnitude of the shape change were not affected by pH between 5.8 and 9.2.7. The dependence of the velocity of the shape change on the ADP concentration was in accordance with Michaelis-Menton kinetics. The K(m) was about 7.2 x 10(-7)M.8. The velocity of the shape change was inhibited competitively by ATP, adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine but not by AMP. When the inhibitors were added after the maximum of the shape change they caused a concentration-dependent diminution in the record of the change.9. The results suggest that the shape change is initiated by reaction of the agonist ADP with specific receptor sites on the platelet membrane which leads to energy-requiring changes in the structures responsible for maintaining the disk shape of normal platelets.