In Vivo Methods to Study ThermoTRP Channels in Rodents

Abstract

Ion channels participate in several biological processes. Among these channels, the ionotropic TRP family is the most prominent group being TRPV1 the most studied. The activation of these channels can elicit pain sensation; thus, the development of blockers for these channels is receiving increasing attention. TRP channels are the responsible for thermonociception but also, they are involved in osmolarity, taste, and chemical substances perception such as capsaicin or menthol which can evoke pain. The needed of testing new compounds implies the use of animal models of pain and nociceptive tests in order to evaluate their potential efficacy for the treatment of painful symptoms. Several methods have been developed. Here, I describe the standard, current, and available tests to explore nociception in rodents, especially when thermal or mechanical stimuli are applied.