Activating transcription factor 3 mRNA is upregulated in primary cultures of trigeminal ganglion neurons.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) has been used in as a marker of nerve injury in primary sensory neurons. The purpose of the present studies was to determine whether primary sensory ganglia in culture express ATF3 and, thus, an injured phenotype. At all time points post-plating (1 h-14 days), neurons in culture expressed ATF3 compared to undetectable expression in native ganglia. In addition, NGF was unable to rescue this injured phenotype. Thus, sensory neurons in culture represent a potential model of injured neurons.