Ribonuclease A was introduced into the cytoplasm of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts by red cell-mediated microinjection. Early passage fibroblasts degraded ribonuclease A with a half-life of approximately 90 h in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum and enhanced the degradative rate 1.6-fold upon serum withdrawal. Senescent cells degraded ribonuclease A more slowly with half-lives ranging between 125 and 250 h and had diminished capacities to enhance the catabolism of this protein during serum starvation. Decreased protein degradation in senescent cells was also evident for microinjected RNase S-protein, RNase B, aldolase, lysozyme, and the synthetic copolymer polyglutamate: tyrosine:alanine (1:1:1). These alterations in the mechanisms and regulation of intracellular protein degradation may contribute to several biochemical abnormalities characteristic of aging cells and organisms.