ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the fundamental role that peripheral Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels play for both the gustatory and trigeminal sensory systems. The mammalian taste system consists of taste buds, which are groups of 50–100 taste cells that are found throughout the oral cavity. Taste buds are embedded in a stratified squamous epithelium, which contains somatosensory branches of the trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, and vagus cranial nerves. TRP mucolipin channels on the basolateral surface of the taste receptor cells. TRP vanilloid is a member of the vanilloid group of TRP channels. The nerve terminals surrounding taste buds and others located throughout the oral cavity are branches of the trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves that give to sensations involving touch, temperature, and pain. The responses of these neurons to chemical stimuli and the resulting perception are called chemesthesis. Eugenol, which is found in cloves, activates both channels as do shogaols, which are in ginger.
