This study characterizes the temporal-spatial distribution of nerve growth factor (NGF) low (p75) and high-affinity (trkA) receptors in the facial nerve and geniculate ganglion (GG) of developing quail embryos (E-3 to E-14). We used 125I-labeled NGF (125I-NGF) to study binding dynamics in a temporal series of isolated primordia and an autoradiographic series of staged specimens to characterize the occurrence and distribution of NGF receptors in this cranial nerve and its ganglion. In addition, expression of trkA and p75 protein-like immunoreactivity in the facial nerve and GG was studied by Western blot, in order to distinguish between high- and low-affinity NGF receptors respectively. The quantitative study of binding show that isolated facial primordia ranging from E-3 to E-14 exhibit different levels of specific binding. High initial binding levels were observed on E-3 specimens, then an initial decrease on day 4 (E-4) followed by a steady increase from days E-4 to E-7. Maximum 125I-NGF binding was achieved on E-7, followed by a steady decline in binding on days 8 (E-8) and 9 (E-9), reaching near background levels on day 10 (E-10) of development and until the oldest stage assayed (E-14). Most of the cells bearing NGF receptors appeared to be non-neuronal crest-derived cells, but some placode-derived neurons and motor fibers of the VIIth cranial nerve transiently expressed the ability to bind 125I-NGF. The temporal pattern of p75 expression matches the pattern of quantitative binding of NGF, while the trkA expression is restricted to a few stages mainly E7 and E9, implying that most of the binding detected is via low-affinity receptors, except for a proportion of high-affinity receptors present at stages of maximum binding. This temporal pattern of NGF binding sites suggests that cells within the VIIth cranial nerve are responsive to and/or dependent upon NGF in vivo, so NGF may play a biological role during normal development of the facial nerve. In view of the developmental events that parallel the occurrence and type of NGF binding sites, we suggest that this role may be to modulate from earlier chemotaxis and cell proliferation to much later events, such as neuronal differentiation and neuron-glia interactions. The significance of these findings in regeneration during adult life remain to be investigated.