Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined sequentially for changes in volume, the appearance of cell membrane receptors and nucleic acid synthesis. The kinetics of appearance of activation antigens were compared with the progress of the cell through the separate events of volume growth and nucleic acid syntheses, to determine points at which regulation of receptors may control further progress through the cell cycle. In all samples tested there was a consistent pattern of response in the proportion of cells progressing through the cell cycle. Most of the T cells increased in size (mean 82% at 24 hr), fewer cells entered the Gla/Glb phase with the onset of RNA synthesis (mean 68% at 48 hr) and even fewer entered DNA synthesis (mean 42% at 72 hr). The time-course of appearance and the number of cells expressing IL-2 receptors were almost identical with that of cells responding by RNA synthesis. A similar correlation was observed between expression of the transferrin receptor and DNA synthesis. Addition of anti-Tac antibody temporarily suppressed the onset of RNA synthesis and antibodies to the transferrin receptor suppressed DNA synthesis. These linkages are further evidence that IL-2 and transferrin are the specific signals for cellular RNA and DNA synthesis. With optimal concentrations of PHA, addition of IL-2 did not increase the proportion of cells bearing activation antigens or undergoing nucleic acid synthesis. Suboptimal concentrations of PHA produced a small reduction in the number of cells expressing the IL-2 receptor, but a much greater reduction in the rate of entry into RNA synthesis. There was a consistent increase in all activation parameters tested with the addition of IL-2, but the proportion of cells expressing the transferrin receptor and entering DNA synthesis was consistently lower than that of cells that expressed the IL-2 receptor or entered RNA synthesis. This suggests that regulation of the IL-2 receptor is not responsible for the reduction in the number of cells that proceed to proliferation. The CD2 antigen (T11(1] showed increasing expression in a step-wise fashion after activation, the increases coinciding with the onset of RNA and DNA syntheses.