A new method of preparation of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is described. The subcellular distribution of cytochrome b in resting and activated bovine PMN was compared to that of the O2-.-generating oxidase (assessed as NADPH cytochrome c reductase inhibited by superoxide dismutase). In resting PMN and in PMN activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), cytochrome b was located into two membrane fractions, one of which was enriched in plasma membrane and cosedimented with alkaline phosphatase, while the other consisted of a denser material cosedimenting with markers of the specific and azurophil granules, i.e. the vitamin-B12-binding protein and myeloperoxidase respectively. During activation of PMN by PMA, 15-20% cytochrome b migrated from dense granules to the plasma membrane. The distribution of the O2-. generating oxidase and cytochrome b in subcellular particles was studied during the course of phagocytosis of PMA-coated latex beads by bovine PMN. At the onset of the respiratory burst, the phagocytic vacuoles arising from internalization of the plasma membrane were enriched in oxidase and alkaline phosphatase, but their specific content of cytochrome b was limited; in contrast, cytochrome b was predominant in denser membrane fractions cosedimenting with myeloperoxidase and the vitamin-B12-binding protein. After a few minutes of phagocytosis, a fraction of light vacuoles, slightly denser than the phagocytic vacuoles, became enriched in O2-.-generating oxidase, cytochrome b, the vitamin-B12-binding protein and myeloperoxidase. These vacuoles probably arose from the fusion of the phagocytic vacuoles with dense granules. In bovine PMN supplemented with glucose and maintained in anaerobiosis, activation by PMA induced slow reduction of cytochrome b (60-70% in 15 min at 37 degrees C). Similar results were obtained with cytoplasts after activation by PMA (30% reduction in 3 min at 37 degrees C). Cytochrome b in a particulate fraction obtained by centrifugation at 100 000 X g of an homogenate of PMA-activated PMN, was slowly reduced upon addition of NADPH under anaerobiosis (less 20% in 20 min at 37 degrees C). No reduction occurred in the 100 000 X g fraction prepared from non-activated PMN. The Soret band of cytochrome b reduced by dithionite was displaced by CO only by 1-2 nm. At subsaturating concentrations, CO had no effect on the rate of O2 uptake by activated bovine PMN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)