The mammalian transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily consists of six subfamilies that are defined by structural homology: TRPC (conventional or canonical), TRPV (vanilloid), TRPM (melastatin), TRPA (ankyrin), TRPP (polycystin), and TRPML (mucoliptin). This review focuses on channels belonging to the vanilloid (V) and melastatin (M) TRP subfamilies. The TRPV subfamily consists of six members (TRPV1-6) and the TRPM subfamily has eight (TRPM1-8). The basic biophysical properties of these channels are briefly described. All of these channels except TRPV5, TRPV6, and TRPM1 are reportedly present in arterial smooth muscle from various segments of the vasculature. Studies demonstrating involvement of TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPM4, TRPM7, and TRPM8 in regulation of arterial smooth muscle function are reviewed. The functions of TRPV3, TRPM2, TRPM3, and TRPM6 channels in arterial myocytes have not been reported.
