title: Expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in uninjured dorsal root ganglion neurons in a lower trunk avulsion pain model in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinically, neuropathic pain is frequent and intense following brachial plexus injury. It is thought that brachial plexus pain is not generated by avulsed roots, but rather by non-avulsed roots, since the avulsed root could not possibly transmit action potentials to central nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate pain behavior and activation of sensory neurons in a brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) model in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen male Wistar rats were used. In the BPA group, the C8-T1 roots were avulsed from the spinal cord with forceps at the lower trunk level (n = 5). In the naïve group, rats did not receive any procedures (n = 5). In the sham-operated group, the lower trunk was simply exposed (n = 5). Mechanical hyperalgesia of forelimbs corresponding to C6 and C7 dermatomes was measured using von Frey filaments every third day for 3 weeks. Activation of DRG neurons was immunohistochemically examined using anti-ATF3 (a marker for neuron activation) antibodies 21 days after surgery. Von Frey and immunohistochemical data between groups were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Mann-Whitney U tests. Bonferroni corrections were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals in the BPA group displayed significant mechanical hyperalgesia at the dermatome innervated by uninjured nerves continuing through day 21 compared with animals in the sham-operated group. ATF3-immunoreactive small and large DRG neurons were significantly activated in the BPA group (10.6 ± 9.5 and 5.2 ± 4.1 %, 39.7 ± 6.7 and 25.2 ± 10.3 %, 78.0 ± 9.1 and 53.7 ± 29.3 %) compared with the sham-operated group (0.7 ± 0.9 and 0 ± 0 %, 2.8 ± 2.0 and 1.0 ± 2.0 %, 3.9 ± 2.7 and 8.6 ± 10.1 %) at every level of C5, 6, and 7. In the naïve group, no DRG neurons were activated. ATF3-immunoreactive small and large DRG neurons were significantly activated at the level of C7 compared with C6 and C5, and significantly activated at the level of C6 compared with C5 in the BPA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of ATF3 in uninjured DRG neurons may contribute to pain following brachial plexus avulsion injury. Consequently, spared spinal sensory nerves may represent therapeutic targets for treatment of this pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. y-m-1211@khaki.plala.or.jp
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohtori
authors.forename: Nahoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.forename: Takane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuniyoshi
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3; C497108:Atf3 protein, rat