The effects of the microtubular drugs colcemid and taxol on the morphological changes induced by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) in MDCK cells were studied. Dynamic changes in the area and shape of individual cells were assessed by morphometric methods whereas alterations of the cytoskeleton were assessed by immunomorphological methods. The results suggest that there are two components in the response to HGF/SF: (a) activation of the extension of lamellae leading to cell spreading; and (b) reorganization of microtubules leading to polarization of cell shape. The latter response is highly sensitive to microtubular drugs, especially taxol. HGF/SF induced spreading in taxol-treated MDCK cells but these cells retained a non-polarized discoid shape and a pattern of actin microfilament bundles characteristic of the untreated cells. Colcemid and taxol did not prevent HGF/SF-induced migration of cells in Boyden chambers but completely inhibited the outgrowth of multicellular strands and tubules from cell aggregates in collagen gels. These results show that enhanced lamella formation in response to HGF/SF without polarization of cell shape is sufficient to induce cell motility. In contrast, microtubule-dependent polarization is essential for complex morphogenetic responses such as tubulogenesis in collagen gels.