Down-regulation and clearance of as many as 60-80% of GPIb/IX receptors from exposed surfaces on thrombin-activated platelets to channels of the open canalicular system (OCS) is considered to be a fundamental mechanism regulating platelet adhesivity in vitro and in vivo. The present study has combined thrombin stimulation in suspension, surface activation on formvar grids, receptor occupancy by von Willebrand factor (vWF) and exposure to anti-vWF antibody in an effort to demonstrate the removal of GPIb/IX receptors from activated cells. Individually the stimuli failed to cause any change in the frequency of GPIb/IX receptors. Combined, the stimuli were no more effective than when each was used alone. The only way to cause GPIb/IX to move was to add anti-vWF to thrombin-activated platelets allowed to spread on formvar grids and covered with multimers of ristocetin-activated human or bovine vWF. Translocation of GPIb/IX-vWF-anti-vWF complexes from peripheral margins into caps over cell centres, however, did not clear the peripheral zone of vWF binding capacity. Exposure of capped platelets after fixation to a second incubation with vWF demonstrated as many multimers extending from the central cap to the peripheral margins as were seen on platelets exposed a single time to vWF. Antibodies to GPIb, but not to GPIIb/IIIA, prevented the second labelling by vWF. Down-regulation or clearance of GPIb/IX, in light of this study, does not appear to be a fundamental mechanism modulating platelet adhesivity.