To investigate the existence of intracellular pools of membrane glycoproteins involved in platelet adhesive reactions, the authors have studied the distribution of glycoprotein (GP) Ib and IIb/IIIa by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Studies on whole cells and frozen thick sections revealed a rim pattern of fluorescence for GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa consistent with a surface distribution. In addition, extensive staining occupying the entire cell interior was observed for anti-GPIIb/IIIa, whereas anti-GPIb revealed staining of large intracellular structures that contained no stainable fibrinogen. On the ultrastructural level, the extracellular face of the plasma membrane and the intraluminal face of vacuolar structures were stained with both anti-GPIb and anti-GPIIb/IIIa. Additionally, GPIIb/IIIa antigen was localized to alpha-granule membranes. To determine whether alpha-granule GPIIb/IIIa could be transported to the cell surface, the authors employed a calcium-dependent monoclonal anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody. Incubation of platelets with EGTA at 37 C abolished staining of plasma membrane and vacuolar but not alpha-granule GPIIb/IIIa. Recalcification of these cells failed to restore the epitope; however, thrombin treatment of recalcified cells reconstituted surface staining with a concurrent loss of internal staining. These data suggest that GPIIb/IIIa is present in alpha-granule membranes and may be transported to the cell surface in response to thrombin treatment. In addition, both GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa antigens are present in intracellular membrane-bounded vacuolar structures which are closed to antibody probes in fixed cells. Redistribution of these internal pools of adhesive protein "receptors" may participate in the regulation of platelet adhesive properties.