Residualizing radioactive labels are designed to remain entrapped within cells following degradation of a carrier protein, and have been used for identification of the tissue and cellular sites of plasma protein catabolism. In this study we describe a convenient synthesis and purification of a series of 125I-labeled glycoconjugates, and an evaluation of their efficiency of retention in liver following degradation of a model carrier protein, asialofetuin. Glycoconjugates were prepared in 65-90% yield by reductive amination of reducing sugars with aromatic amines using NaBH3CN. The products were purified in a single ion-exchange chromatographic step, and then labeled with 125I. The derivatives prepared were mono-and disubstituted lactitol-,cellobiitol-and glucitol-[125I]tyramine and lactitol-[125I]tyrosine. 125I-Glycoconjugates were coupled to asialofetuin using either cyanuric chloride or, for lactose-containing labels, by treatment with galactose oxidase followed by reductive amination with NaBH3CN. Attachment of labels by either procedure did not affect the normal rapid clearance of asialofetuin from the rat circulation nor its uptake and degradation in liver lysosomes. Leakage of 125I-labeled degradation products from cells was measured by following the kinetics of loss of whole-body radioactivity. We observed that degradation products from larger, disubstituted glycoconjugates were retained more efficiently than those from smaller and monosubstituted derivatives, and that glycoconjugates coupled to protein via reductive amination were retained in the body more efficiently than those coupled by cyanuric chloride. Overall, dilactitol-[125I]tyramine coupled to protein by reductive amination was entrapped most efficiently in liver.