A kainate binding protein (KBP) was studied in Rana pipiens inner ear using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against affinity purified KBP from frog brain. The KBP identified and analyzed in inner ear tissue homogenates, with one- and two-dimensional immunoblots, was similar to the affinity purified KBP and to the antibody-identified frog brain KBP. As brain KBP, inner ear KBP had 5 main components in the molecular weight dimension, centered at Mr = 48,000; however, inner ear KBP had a greater abundance of the higher molecular weight components. Light and electron microscopy observations showed KBP immunostaining at two locations: (1) in the dendrites of the eight nerve afferent fibers contacting sensory hair cells, with the postsynaptic density being more intensely stained; and (2) on the cytoplasmic membrane of fibroblasts present in the inner ear connective tissue which displayed intense immunostaining. The presence of kainate (KA) binding sites in the inner ear was assessed using in vitro receptor autoradiography. [3H]KA binding sites were found in connective tissue areas confirming the immunocytochemistry results. The postsynaptic localization of the KBP in afferent endings, strongly supports it as being a component of the KA receptor complex. However, its presence on fibroblasts situated in the inner ear connective tissue makes its function hypothetical. The dual presence of the KBP on non-neuronal cells as well as at postsynaptic membrane sites suggests the existence of a family of proteins involved in KA binding and KA receptors with a complex organization.