Parenchymal cells, isolated from normal adult rat liver (3 x 10(7) cells/g liver) by collagenase perfusion and maintained in nondividing monolayer culture, were employed to investigate cell surface properties of hepatocytes. Membrane transport systems for asialoorosomucoid (A-OM) and methotrexate (MTX) were lost rapidly in culture, whereas induction of tyrosine aminotransferase and transport of alpha-aminoisobutyrate actually increased during the first 3 days. Alterations in the membrane transport systems for A-OM and MTX reflected more generalized modifications of cell surface components induced during primary culture. Thus, the binding of concanavalin A(Con A) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to cultured hepatocytes increased approximately 2-fold between 24 and 96 hr, and the incorportion of radioactive mannose and glucosamine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble proteins increased 13-fold and 4-fold, respectively. Plasma membranes were isolated from cultured hepatocytes and the major structural proteins and glycoproteins were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Membrane instability between 24 and 96 hr of culture was characterized by time-dependent alterations in specific polypeptides and extensive changes in Con A- and WGA-binding glycoproteins. Although addition of a complex hormone supplement to the medium increased the number of viable cells and sustained A-OM and MTX transport systems for 24 hr, it had no influence on the altered membrane protein and glycoprotein profiles observed in its absence.