To determine whether or not proteins circulating in plasma can be incorporated into megakaryocytes and platelets, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected intravenously into guinea pigs and these cells were examined for its uptake by electron microscopy and cytochemistry. Enriched samples of megakaryocytes enabled ultrastructural analysis of large numbers of these rare cells. In megakaryocytes, 50% of a granules contained HRP between 75 min and 7 hr after injection. At 24 hr, 25% of the megakaryocyte granules were peroxidase-positive, less were positive by 48 hr, and there were none at 4 days. Thus, the findings demonstrate that a circulating protein can be endocytosed by megakaryocytes and rapidly packaged into a granules. Platelet granules also contain HRP by 7 hr after injection, and they can secrete it in response to thrombin. Unfortunately, our present studies do not allow us to distinguish between direct endocytosis by the platelet and/or shedding of new platelets from recently labeled megakaryocytes. It is concluded that while some a granule proteins are synthesized by megakaryocytes, others may be acquired from plasma by endocytosis. In addition to providing evidence that some of the proteins of a granules may be of exogenous origin, this study has allowed the definition of a pathway whereby plasma proteins may be temporarily sequestered in megakaryocytes before reentering the circulation in platelets.One of the most striking characteristics of platelets is the large variety of proteins that are secreted during the release reaction. Platelets contain counterparts of several plasma proteins (albumin, fibrinogen, and others) in addition to platelet-specific proteins (platelet factor 4 and f3-thromboglobulin). These proteins are localized in a granules, the primary storage organelle for platelet secretory proteins. Predictably, many of these proteins have been shown to be synthesized in megakaryocytes, the bone marrow precursor cell from which platelets are derived. Platelet-specific proteins appear to be synthesized solely by megakaryocytes, whereas proteins such as fibrinogen, coagulation factor V, and von Willebrand factor are synthesized by other cell types in addition to megakaryocytes (1,2).Recently, we discovered that immunoglobulin G is located in platelet a granules and is secreted after platelet activation (3 In Vivo Studies. Male Hartley guinea pigs (300-400 g) were anesthetized with ether, and 75 mg of HRP was dissolved in 1 ml of physiologic saline and injected into the femoral vein. The animals were sacrificed with ether at short (15, 45, and 75 min) and long (7 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr, And 4 days) intervals after the injection. Blood was collected into acid/citrate/dextrose by heart puncture immediately before the guinea pigs were killed. Platelets were counted by use of an automated analyzer (Coulter S + IV). Platelet-rich plasma was obtained by centrifugation of the blood at 100 x g for 10 min at 22°C. Megakaryocytes were isolated from bone marrow according to a described technique (4), e...