We have used the polymerase chain reaction to isolate cDNAs coding for goldfish and zebrafish neurolin, a previously identified 86 kDa cell surface glycoprotein in the goldfish visual system. Sequence analysis demonstrates that neurolin belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily and is 51% similar to the chick cell adhesion molecule DM-GRASP, SC-1, BEN. Northern analysis with a riboprobe coding for the C-terminus of neurolin detected two mRNAs of 3.7 kb and 3.3 kb in both embryonic and adult goldfish. Several monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were generated against immunopurified goldfish neurolin and two are shown to crossreact with zebrafish proteins. Both antibodies identify a zebrafish protein of the same molecular weight as goldfish neurolin on immunoblots. Immunohistochemical studies with these antibodies in the zebrafish retinotectal system demonstrate labeling on young ganglion cells and growing retinal axons in a pattern similar to that found in goldfish. The similarity of neurolin to a known cell adhesion molecule, its expression on developing retinal ganglion cells and axons in both embryos and adult fish, and its re-expression during retinal axon regeneration in the goldfish suggests that neurolin is important during axonal growth in the fish central nervous system.