Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate induced spreading of mouse macrophages with 50% effective concentrations of 3 nM and 35 nM, respectively. Macrophages treated with 100 or 1000 nM phorbol 12, 13- dibutyrate showed a time related decrease in spreading after washout. Spreading induced by 1, 10, or 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was irreversible; however, washed phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-treated cells respread after a second exposure to this compound. Washout of 3[H]phorbol diesters corroborated these observations in that 5% of 3H-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and only 0.1% 3[H]phorbol, 12,13-dibutyrate remained associated with washed cells. Since phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate is much more lipophilic than phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, the reversibility of phorbol diester-induced macrophage spreading may depend upon the lipophilicity of the derivative utilized.