A frog brain kainic acid receptor (KAR) was studied using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against the affinity-purified receptor. Immunocytochemistry was done on sections of the frog CNS, and the distribution of immunostaining was compared with the distribution of high- and low-affinity 3H-kainic acid (3H-KA) binding sites determined with in vitro receptor autoradiography. These studies showed (1) similar distributions of high- and low-affinity 3H-KA binding sites, (2) identical patterns of immunostaining with the polyclonal antibodies and 2 monoclonal antibodies, and (3) an antibody binding distribution which closely matched that of 3H-KA binding, suggesting that the antibodies recognize the primary KAR in frog brain. In the frog brain, an anteroposterior gradient of immunostaining was observed, with the telencephalon intensely and uniformly immunoreactive. Other areas intensely immunoreactive included the cerebellum, the infundibulum, the tectal and posterior commissures, and the laminar nucleus of the torus semicircularis. The optic tectum showed selective staining of the plexiform layers 3 and 5-7. The pattern of staining was punctate and appeared to be associated with nerve fibers, among them dendritic arborizations. Electron microscopic observations showed staining at the cytoplasmic side of postsynaptic membranes. Extra-synaptic staining was observed as patches on the surface of unmyelinated nerve processes.