The dopamine D1A receptor subtype was identified in rat kidney with both light microscopic immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Antipeptide polyclonal antisera were directed to both extracellular and intracellular regions of the native receptor. The use of such receptor-subtype-selective antibodies allows for the identification of specific dopamine receptor subtype clones that are not distinguished by current pharmacological or receptor-ligand binding technology. Selectivity of the antipeptide antisera was validated by their ability to recognize native receptor protein expressed in permanently transfected mouse LTK- cells. In the rat kidney, D1A receptor protein was localized to the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA), proximal tubule, distal tubule, cortical collecting duct, and renal vasculature. In the JGA, the receptor was predominantly located in the arteriolar smooth muscle layer within cytoplasmic granules previously shown to contain renin. In the proximal tubules, staining was localized both on the brush-border and basolateral membranes. The D1A receptor, which is present in the central nervous system, is now identified in the rat kidney at those sites previously labeled as DA1 receptor sites on the basis of pharmacological binding studies. These results suggest that at least some of the renal dopamine DA1 receptors correspond structurally to the central dopamine D1A receptor.