Binding of integrin alpha IIb beta 3 (glycoprotein [GP] IIb-IIIa) to soluble fibrinogen requires that the receptor undergo a conformational change (receptor activation), which occurs rapidly in agonist-stimulated platelets. Agonist stimulation of platelets also results in alpha IIb beta 3 recruitment from intracellular membranes (alpha-granules and open canalicular system) to the platelet surface. Once activated and accessible, the receptor can engage, a process that corresponds to the binding of the receptor to its soluble fibrinogen ligand, leading to intracellular signaling reactions and centripetal migration of bound receptor molecules. Because these processes occur concurrently with a marked reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, we investigated the role of actin in fibrinogen receptor activation and surface recruitment. We used a flow cytometric assay to directly quantitate the binding of alpha IIb beta 3 to fluorescently labeled fibrinogen on the platelet surface. Cytochalasin D, which inhibits elongation of actin filaments, was used to prevent the actin response to platelet agonists. Despite its ability to inhibit the actin response and alpha IIb beta 3 binding to the actin cytoskeleton, cytochalasin D did not alter the agonist-induced intramolecular changes resulting in increased affinity of alpha IIb beta 3 for soluble fibrinogen and therefore did not inhibit ADP-induced aggregation. Thus, disruption of the actin network with cytochalasin D had no effect on the dissociation constant of the complex between activated alpha IIb beta 3 and fibrinogen (Kd = 0.26 to 0.28 mumol/L). However, cytochalasin D suppressed the recruitment of cryptic alpha IIb beta 3 molecules to the platelet surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)