In many nonexcitable cells, activation of phospholipase C (PLC)-linked receptors results in a release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores followed by a transmembrane Ca²⁺ entry. This Ca²⁺ entry underlies the sustained phase of [Ca²⁺]_i increase, is important for various cellular functions including gene expression, secretion and cell proliferation, and is supported by agonist-activated Ca²⁺-permeable ion channels. Ca²⁺-permeable channels which are activated by store depletion and which are therefore referred to as store- operated channels or SOCs form a major pathway for agonist-induced Ca²⁺ influx. So far, the molecular structures of these channels have not been identified. Potential candidates are encoded by members of the TRP family, a class of ion channels initially discovered in Drosophila and involved in the PLC-dependent transduction of visual stimuli. Here, we review recent evidence that agonist-induced Ca²⁺ influx and especially SOCs are present in different cell types of the heart and of the cardiovascular system and compare these findings with the possible functions and tissue-specific expression of mammalian TRP proteins.