A monoclonal anti-idiotypic opioid receptor antibody was used for the light-microscopic visualization of opioid receptors in several brain structures and monolayer cultures of a neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cell-line (NG108-15). The antibody proved to be specific, displaying affinity for mu greater than delta much greater than kappa opioid receptors. Receptor distribution in the brain areas studied was in agreement with previous autoradiographic analyses; of particular interest, high densities of immunoreactive opioid receptors were found in the perikarya and in the initial parts of the axons and dendrites; light microscopy did not allow an exact determination of the subcellular localization of opioid receptors, but the immunoreactivity seemed to be associated with the plasma membrane and to be present within the cytoplasm as well. Similar observations were made for the cell bodies and neurites of NG108-15 cells. The methodology described potentially permits the study of opioid receptor distribution in discrete brain areas under different physiological and pharmacological conditions and of the ontogeny of these receptors; in addition, it may help to find a morphological basis for events such as receptor internalization and recycling.