The role of cell surface charge in cellular interactions has been the subject of conflicting reports. The major contribution to the net cell surface negativity of all mammalian cells studied is made by the sialic acid moieties of the surface glycoproteins, while ribonuclease-susceptible sites have been shown to contribute to the lesser extent on some cell types. Experiments were done to determine whether these anionic groups at the cell periphery affect the aggregation and sorting behaviour of embryonic chick neural retina cells when cultured alone or in combination with embryonic heart cells. The net negative surface charge density, as determined by cell electrophoretic mobility, of neuraminidase- or ribonuclease-treated cells was significantly decreased immediately after incubation with the enzymes, and the treatment with neuraminidase resulted in a reduction in the binding of colloidal iron hydroxide particles at the cell surface. Both enzymes caused reduced aggregate size in gyratory shaker cultures of neural retina and mixed cell suspensions, and fewer neural retina cells adherent to microtest plate surfaces, but no differences were seen in their histological appearance or sorting pattern in mixed shaker culture. The results indicate that the neuraminidase- and ribonuclease-susceptible groups at the periphery of embryonic neural retina cells play a role in some aspects of cell contact behaviour in ways other than reduction in net negative surface charge.