The various functions of nitric oxide (NO) in the nervous system are not fully understood, including its role in neuronal regeneration. The goldfish can regenerate its optic nerve after transection, making it a useful model for studying central nervous regeneration in response to injury. Therefore, we have studied the pattern of NO expression in the retina and optic tectum after optic nerve transection, using NADPH diaphorase histochemistry. NO synthesis was transiently up-regulated in the ganglion cell bodies, peaking during the period when retinal axons reach the tectum, between 20-45 days after optic nerve transection. Enzyme activity in the tectum was transiently down-regulated and then returned to control levels at 60 days after optic nerve transection, during synaptic refinement. To compare NO expression in the developing and regenerating retina, we have looked at NO expression in the developing zebrafish retina. In the developing zebrafish retina the pattern of staining roughly followed the pattern of development with the inner plexiform layer and horizontal cells having the strongest pattern of staining. These results suggest that NO may be involved in the survival of ganglion cells in the regenerating retina, and that it plays a different role in the developing retina. In the tectum, NO may be involved in synaptic refinement.