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Recent evidence suggests that, during endocytosis, receptors for many polypeptide ligands are spared degradation and are recycled to the plasma membrane for re-utilization. The univalent ionophore monensin was shown to inhibit membrane recycling. We therefore examined its effects on insulin interactions with isolated rat hepatocytes to characterize further receptor endocytosis and recycling in these cells. At 10 degrees C, in the absence of endocytosis, no change in insulin binding was observed. However, at 37 degrees C a concentration-dependent decrease in 125I-insulin binding was seen in the presence of insulin; this reached a maximum of 60% at 1 nM-insulin. Competitive binding studies showed this to be due to a 50-60% decrease in cell-surface insulin-receptor concentration, although the total cellular receptor concentration remained unchanged, suggesting that monensin causes the intracellular sequestration of receptors. Time-course studies of the processing of 2.5 nM-insulin showed that monensin produced a 50-60% decrease in surface binding, accompanied by a similar decrease in internalization and total inhibition of insulin degradation. When hepatocytes with 125I-insulin prebound to their surface receptors at 10 degrees C were warmed to 37 degrees C, monensin had no effect on internalization, but caused marked impairment of intracellular insulin degradation. It is concluded that monensin inhibits receptor recycling and cellular insulin degradation.