Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) and Thermoregulation in Animals: Structural Biology and Neurophysiological Aspects

Simple Summary In this review, recent discoveries regarding transient receptor potential are discussed and analyzed to comprehend their role in the thermoregulatory mechanisms of animals. Understanding how these receptors are activated and the pathways through which they recognize specific thermal sensations (such as cold, warm, and hot temperatures) will help researchers verify their participation in inflammatory and pathological processes. Research on transient receptor potential and their functions is ongoing, and many current studies are designed to develop therapeutic approaches that will act directly on these receptors to improve the quality of life of non-human animals. This review presents and analyzes recent scientific findings on the structure, physiology, and neurotransmission mechanisms of transient receptor potential (TRP) and their function in the thermoregulation of mammals. The aim is to better understand the functionality of these receptors and their role in maintaining the temperature of animals, or those susceptible to thermal stress. The majority of peripheral receptors are TRP cation channels formed from transmembrane proteins that function as transductors through changes in the membrane potential. TRP are classified into seven families and two groups. The data gathered for this review include controversial aspects because we do not fully know the mechanisms that operate the opening and closing of the TRP gates. Deductions, however, suggest the intervention of mechanisms related to G protein-coupled receptors, dephosphorylation, and ligands. Several questions emerge from the review as well. For example, the future uses of these data for controlling thermoregulatory disorders and the invitation to researchers to conduct more extensive studies to broaden our understanding of these mechanisms and achieve substantial advances in controlling fever, hyperthermia, and hypothermia.