The 180 kDa component of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM-180), total NCAM (NCAM-total) and the polysialic acid modification of NCAM (PSA) show similar temporal and spatial regulation in the developing tecta of Pleurodeles waltl (salamander) and Discoglossus pictus (frog). Whereas NCAM-total is found throughout the tectal tissue on neurons and glia, NCAM-180 is only found on nonproliferating neurons and in fiber layers. PSA is expressed by a subset of NCAM-180-positive cells. Western blots show that there is little polysialylated NCAM-140 in the developing amphibian tectum. Regions unstained for PSA and NCAM-180 correspond precisely to the growth zones of the tectum. NCAM-180 and PSA are not present in tecta of early larvae. Staining intensity is strongest at midlarval stages for both antigens. At metamorphosis, PSA is strongly downregulated, whereas NCAM-180 is downregulated in juvenile animals. Both antigens are still present in fiber layers of adult animals. In dissociated tissue culture of the frog tectum, NCAM-180 is not present on astrocytes, but on neuronal cells. Expression is enhanced at cell contact sites, suggesting that NCAM-180 is involved in cell contact stabilization. This study shows that general features of temporal and spatial regulation of NCAM isoforms and PSA are highly conserved in frog and salamander tecta, despite large differences in the rate of cell migration and the degree of lamination in these homologous brain regions.