The low (NF-L) and middle (NF-M) molecular weight (Mr) neurofilament (NF) subunits are expressed before the high (NF-H) Mr NF subunit in embryonic neurons. Thereafter, NF-M attains its mature state of phosphorylation more rapidly than does NF-H. However, little is known about NF subunit expression during cell division. A rapidly dividing medulloblastoma cell line (D283 MED), therefore, was examined using flow cytometry, immunochemistry, and a large panel of NF subunit-specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Many of the monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) distinguished NF-H and NF-M in different states of phosphorylation. By flow cytometry, more than 90% of the D283 cells expressed NF-H and NF-M in different states of phosphorylation, and an antiserum specific for the carboxy terminus of NF-L labeled more than 60% of these cells. Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity produced by MAbs that detected phosphorylated versus nonphosphorylated NF-H and/or NF-M epitopes, appropriately decreased or increased, respectively, by preincubating the D283 cells with alkaline phosphatase. In contrast, cell staining with antibodies specific for phosphate-independent NF protein epitopes did not change substantially as a result of enzymatic dephosphorylation. These results agreed closely with those obtained from studies of normal human spinal cord NF extracts. However, NF-H, NF-M, and NF-L were expressed throughout the cell cycle in dual parameter studies of D283 cells labeled with an antibody and propidium iodide. Nevertheless, reductions in the fluorescence intensity produced with most of these antibodies late in the cell cycle suggested that NF proteins may be subject to modifications in their structure or accessibility to antibody probes during different phases of the cell cycle. These data led to the conclusion that NF subunits are expressed throughout the cell cycle in cultured human medulloblastoma cells, but that subtle changes in the immunoreactivity of these proteins occur during cell division.