The origin of the density heterogeneity of platelets was studied by measuring the survival of density subpopulations of rabbit platelets separated by discontinuous Stractan density gradient centrifugation. When a total population of 51Cr-labeled platelets was injected into recipient rabbits, the relative specific radioactivity of the most dense platelets decreased rapidly. In contrast, that of the least dense platelets had not changed 24 hr after injection, and then decreased slowly. To distinguish between the possibilities that most dense platelets are cleared from the circulation more quickly than least dense platelets or that platelets decrease in density as they age in the circulation, the concurrent survival of least dense and most dense platelets, labeled with either 51Cr or 111In-labeled total platelet populations, determined concurrently in the same rabbits, were identical, calculated from 1 hr values as 100%. However, the 1-hr recovery of 111In-labeled platelets was slightly but significantly less than that of 51Cr-labeled platelets. Therefore, we studied the survival of 51Cr-labeled least dense and 111In-labeled most dense platelets as well as that of 111In-labeled least dense and 51Cr-labeled most dense platelets. Mean 1-hr recovery of least dense platelets, labeled with either isotope (78% +/- 7%, SD) was similar to that of most dense platelets, labeled with either isotope (77% +/- 8%; SD). Mean survival of least dense platelets was 47.3 +/- 18.7 hr (SD), which was significantly less than that of most dense platelets (76.1 +/- 21.6 hr; SD) (p less than 0.0025). These results indicate that platelets decrease in buoyant density as they age in the circulation and that most dense platelets are enriched in young platelets, and least dense in old. Thus, the events that affect platelets as they age in the circulation contribute to platelet density heterogeneity, although they may not be the sole cause of it.