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Related Concept Videos

Thermosensation01:43

Thermosensation

Peripheral thermosensation is the perception of external temperature. A change in temperature (on the surface of the skin and other tissues) is detected by a family of temperature-sensitive ion channels called Transient Receptor Potential, or TRP, receptors. These receptors are located on free nerve endings. Those detecting cold temperatures are closer to the surface of the skin than the nerve endings detecting warmth. These thermoTRP channels, while temperature selective, have relatively...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory organs,...
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...
Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
08:35

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice

Published on: March 17, 2015

Sensing hot and cold with TRP channels.

William C Wetsel1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. wetse001@mc.duke.edu

International Journal of Hyperthermia : the Official Journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group
|May 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels are key to sensing temperature. Research highlights their roles in thermosensation and potential for new therapeutic targets in pain and thermal stress.

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Last Updated: Jun 1, 2026

A Simple and Inexpensive Method for Determining Cold Sensitivity and Adaptation in Mice
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Yeast Luminometric and Xenopus Oocyte Electrophysiological Examinations of the Molecular Mechanosensitivity of TRPV4
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Purification and Reconstitution of TRPV1 for Spectroscopic Analysis
11:53

Purification and Reconstitution of TRPV1 for Spectroscopic Analysis

Published on: July 3, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology

Background:

  • A family of temperature-sensitive ion channels, known as Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, has been identified.
  • Six TRP channels, including TRPV1-4, TRPM8, and TRPA1, are implicated in thermosensation, primarily located in sensory nerves and skin.
  • These channels exhibit overlapping functions across a wide temperature spectrum, from warm to cold.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the physiological roles of TRPV channels in thermosensation.
  • To investigate the potential of TRP channels as therapeutic targets for conditions involving thermal regulation and pain.
  • To understand the specific roles of TRPV2 in in vivo thermal responses.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized gene deletion studies in mice to assess the physiological functions of TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPV4 in thermosensation.
  • Examined the temperature responsiveness of TRPV channels in heterologous systems.
  • Investigated the structure-function relationships of the TRPV1 receptor concerning temperature, chemical agents, and nociceptive stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Deletion of TRPV1, TRPV3, and TRPV4 in mice confirmed their roles in thermosensation, though complete abolition was not observed, suggesting functional redundancy.
  • TRPV2 shows responsiveness to high temperatures in experimental systems, but its in vivo relevance remains to be fully established.
  • Development of a TRPV1 compound that selectively blocks responses to capsaicin and acid while preserving temperature sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • TRP channels, particularly TRPV family members, play crucial roles in mammalian thermosensation, with evidence of functional overlap.
  • TRP channels represent promising targets for pharmaceutical development, with ongoing research into agonists and antagonists for various therapeutic applications.
  • Further research into TRP channel mechanisms could unlock new therapeutic strategies for managing thermal stress and related conditions.