ATF3 and Ventricular hypertrophy: Transgenic mice expressing ATF3 under the control of the α-myosin heavy chain promoter exhibited both atrial enlargement and ventricular hypertrophy as well as myocyte degeneration, extensive fibrosis of the heart wall, conduction abnormalities and contractile dysfunction [18], [19], indicating that ATF3 is detrimental stress-inducible gene.