After some introductory remarks about vertical versus horizontal inductive interactions and about planar versus homoiogenetic induction, the author discusses: a) the historical development of the more recently studied endo-mesoderm induction in the Urodeles and in the anuran Xenopus laevis, b) the possible causal relationship between endo-mesoderm induction and the initiation of the gastrulation process, and c) the older history of the regional neural induction as initially studied in the Urodeles and only recently analysed in the anuran Xenopus laevis. The essential vertical interaction in the neural induction process both in urodelian and in anuran amphibians is emphasized.