Syntaxin is a synapse-specific protein previously localized to the plasma membrane of axon terminals. Biochemical and molecular biological studies indicate a prominent role for syntaxin 1A and 1B in synaptic vesicle docking and/or fusion, suggesting that these proteins are localized to active zone regions of most terminal varicosities in the central nervous system. We sought to test this hypothesis by examining the cellular and subcellular immunocytochemical localization of syntaxin 1 proteins in the striatum and frontal cortex of rats. Using either a polyclonal anti-syntaxin antibody, or a monoclonal antibody directed against the identical protein, HPC-1, immunoperoxidase reaction product was localized to preterminal axons and terminal varicosities that made almost exclusively Type I (asymmetric) synapses on dendritic spines or distal shafts. Immunoreactive terminals forming Type II (symmetric) synapses were observed rarely and only in tissue that was pretreated by rapid freeze-thaw to enhance antibody penetration. From a semi-quantitative analysis, it was estimated that at least 48-62% of all vesicle-filled varicosities and 67-69% of all terminals forming Type I synapses were immunoreactive for syntaxin or HPC-1, respectively. Using a pre-embedding immunogold-silver technique to provide a non-diffusible marker for subcellular localization, gold-silver particles for syntaxin or HPC-1 were localized to the cytoplasmic surface of non-synaptic portions of the plasma membrane of preterminal axons and terminal varicosities. Enrichment of presynaptic active zone regions was not observed with immunogold-silver staining. These findings suggest that syntaxin is primarily contained in a subpopulation of terminals that are associated with excitatory amino acid transmitters, but appears not to be ubiquitously expressed in all terminal classes. The results further indicate that syntaxin is localized to non-synaptic regions of axon and terminal membranes, but may not be enriched in presynaptic active zones. The apparent inconsistency between the subcellular localization of syntaxin and its proposed role in vesicle exocytosis is discussed in terms of possible technical limitations and alternative functions for syntaxin.