The effect of galanin on wide-dynamic range neuron activity in the spinal dorsal horn of rats

The present study investigated the effect of galanin on wide-dynamic range (WDR) neuron activity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of rats. The evoked discharge of WDR neurons was elicited by transdermic electrical stimulation applied on the ipsilateral hindpaw of rats. Galanin was administered directly on the spinal dorsal surface of L3-L5. The evoked discharge frequency of the WDR neurons decreased significantly after the administration of galanin and the effect lasted for more than 30 min. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of galanin on the evoked discharge frequency of WDR neurons was blocked by following administration of the galanin antagonist galantide, indicating that the inhibitory effect of galanin on the activity of WDR neurons was induced by activating galanin receptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The results suggest that galanin has an inhibitory role in the transmission of presumed nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide 8-37 inhibits the evoked discharge frequency of wide dynamic range neurons in dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.

The present study was performed to explore the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide 8-37 (CGRP8-37) on the electrical stimulation-evoked discharge frequency of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats. The discharge frequencies of WDR neurons were evoked by transdermic electrical stimulation applied on the ipsilateral hindpaw. CGRP8-37 was applied directly on the dorsal surface of the L3 to L5 spinal cord. After the administration of 3 nmol of CGRP8-37, the evoked discharge frequency of WDR neurons decreased significantly, an effect lasting more than 30 min. The results indicate that CGRP receptors play an important role in the transmission of presumed nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.     

Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide and its antagonist on the evoked discharge frequency of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.

The present study was performed to explore the effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its antagonist CGRP8-37 on the evoked discharge frequency of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats. Recording was performed with a multibarrelled glass micropipette and the chemicals were delivered by iontophoresis. The discharge of WDR neurons was evoked by transdermic electrical stimulation applied on the ipsilateral hindpaw. (1) Iontophoretic application of CGRP at an ejection current of 100 nA increased the discharge frequency of WDR neurons significantly. (2) Iontophoretic application of CGRP8-37 at an ejection current of 80 or 160 nA induced significant decreases in the discharge frequency of WDR neurons, but not at 40 nA. (3) Iontophoretic application of CGRP8-37 not only antagonized the CGRP-induced increase in the evoked discharge frequency of WDR neurons but also induced a significant decrease in the evoked discharge frequency of WDR neurons compared to basal levels. The results indicate that CGRP and its receptors play a facilitary role on the transmission and/or modulation of nociceptive information in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.     

Xenon reduces activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) in rat dorsal root ganglion cells and in human TRPV1-expressing HEK293 cells

AimsXenon provides effective analgesia in several pain states at sub-anaesthetic doses. Our aim was to examine whether xenon may mediate its analgesic effect, in part, through reducing the activity of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), a receptor known to be involved in certain inflammatory pain conditions.Main methodsWe studied the effect of xenon on capsaicin-evoked cobalt uptake in rat cultured primary sensory neurons and in human TRPV1 (hTRPV1)-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. We also examined xenon's effect on the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the rat spinal dorsal horn evoked by hind-paw injection of capsaicin.Key findingsXenon (75%) reduced the number of primary sensory neurons responding to the TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin (100 nM–1 μM) by ~ 25% to ~ 50%. Xenon reduced the number of heterologously-expressed hTRPV1 activated by 300 nM capsaicin by ~ 50%. Xenon (80%) reduced by ~ 40% the number of phosporylated ERK1/2-expressing neurons in rat spinal dorsal horn resulting from hind-paw capsaicin injection.SignificanceXenon substantially reduces the activity of TRPV1 in response to noxious stimulation by the specific TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin, suggesting a possible role for xenon as an adjunct analgesic where hTRPV1 is an active contributor to the excitation of primary afferents which initiates the pain sensation.     

异丙酚对正常大鼠脊髓背角感觉神经元反应性的抑制作用

脊髓背角感觉神经元不仅在感觉信息的传递和调节中起到重要作用,也是各种内源性和外源性药物的作用靶位.为了解静脉麻醉剂异丙酚是否对背角感觉神经元的反应性具有调节作用,本实验采用在体单细胞胞外记录技术,观察了脊髓背表面直接滴注0.5 μmol异丙酚对戊巴比妥钠麻醉大鼠脊髓背角广动力域(WDR)神经元和低阈值机械感受型(LTM)神经元反应性的影响.实验发现,异丙酚能抑制背角WDR神经元由施加于外周感受野伤害性热刺激(45、47、49和53℃,15 s)和夹捏机械刺激(10 s)诱发的反应性,与DMSO对照组比较具有显著性统计学差异(P＜0.05);同样,异丙酚对非伤害性机械刺激诱发的WDR或LTM神经元的反应性也具有显著的抑制作用(P＜0.05).本结果提示,异丙酚可直接作用于正常大鼠脊髓背角神经元,对由非伤害性和伤害性纤维介导的神经元反应性均产生抑制作用,因此异丙酚的脊髓抗伤害作用可能不是特异性的.     

Distinct effects of D-serine on spinal nociceptive responses in normal and carrageenan-injected rats

Single unit extracellular recordings from dorsal horn neurons were performed with glass micropipettes in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. A total of 60 wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons were obtained from 34 rats. In normal rats (20/34), spinally administered D-serine (10 nmol), a putative endogenous agonist of glycine site of NMDA receptors, significantly enhanced the C- but not Abeta-, and Adelta-fiber responses of WDR neurons in the spinal dorsal horn. When 1 nmol of the glycine site antagonist 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CK) was co-administered with 10 nmol D-serine, the facilitation of D-serine on C-fiber response was completely blocked. 7-CK (1 nmol) alone failed to influence Abeta-, Adelta-, and C-fiber responses of WDR neurons. In contrast, in carrageenan-injected rats (14/34), 10 nmol D-serine had no effect on C-fiber response, while 1 nmol 7-CK per se markedly depressed C-fiber response of WDR neurons. These findings suggest that under physiological conditions, glycine sites in the spinal cord were available but became saturated following peripheral inflammation. Thus, increased endogenous d-serine or glycine may be involved in nociceptive transmission by modulating NMDA receptor activities. The glycine site of NMDA receptors may become a target for the prevention of inflammatory pain.     

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and substance P mediate nociception in acute pancreatitis

The mechanism of pancreatitis-induced pain is unknown. In other tissues, inflammation activates transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) on sensory nerves to liberate CGRP and substance P (SP) in peripheral tissues and the dorsal horn to cause neurogenic inflammation and pain, respectively. We evaluated the contribution of TRPV1, CGRP, and SP to pancreatic pain in rats. TRPV1, CGRP, and SP were coexpressed in nerve fibers of the pancreas. Injection of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin into the pancreatic duct induced endocytosis of the neurokinin 1 receptor in spinal neurons in the dorsal horn (T10), indicative of SP release upon stimulation of pancreatic sensory nerves. Induction of necrotizing pancreatitis by treatment with L-arginine caused a 12-fold increase in the number of spinal neurons expressing the proto-oncogene c-fos in laminae I and II of L1, suggesting activation of nociceptive pathways. L-arginine also caused a threefold increase in spontaneous abdominal contractions detected by electromyography, suggestive of referred pain. Systemic administration of the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine inhibited c-fos expression by 2.5-fold and abdominal contractions by 4-fold. Intrathecal, but not systemic, administration of antagonists of CGRP (CGRP(8-37)) and SP (SR140333) receptors attenuated c-fos expression in spinal neurons by twofold. Thus necrotizing pancreatitis activates TRPV1 on pancreatic sensory nerves to release SP and CGRP in the dorsal horn, resulting in nociception. Antagonism of TRPV1, SP, and CGRP receptors may suppress pancreatitis pain.     

Significant changes in mitochondrial distribution in different pain models of mice

Mitochondria play an important role in pathophysiology of inflammatory and neuropathic pain but the mechanism is unclear. So far no comprehensive study exists that evaluates the changes of mitochondrial dynamics following the pain. In this study, we detected the mitochondrial distribution and subcellular morphology by using intrathecal injection of mitochondrial marker, Mitotracker Red® CM-H2XRox (Mito-Red) and confocal microscopic analysis in models of formalin-induced acute inflammatory pain, Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA)-induced persistent pain and spared nerve injury (SNI)-induced neuropathic pain. The results demonstrated that subcutaneous formalin injection did not affect the number of Mito-Red cells within the spinal dorsal horn at both acute and tonic phases, but significantly increased the number of cluster type mitochondria in superficial spinal dorsal horn (laminas I–II) at tonic phase. Differently, the number of Mito-Red cells significantly increased in superficial and deep spinal dorsal horn (laminas III–V) following persistent CFA and SNI neuropathic pain. Moreover, both CFA and SNI remarkably increased the number of cluster type mitochondria and decreased the number of granule type mitochondria, in both superficial and deep spinal dorsal horn. So we concluded that abnormal mitochondrial distribution contributes to neuropathic and some forms of inflammatory pain.     

急性神经损伤引起脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位长时程增强

神经损伤引起神经病性疼痛,表现为持续性痛超敏和痛觉过敏。目前对神经病性疼痛的机制尚缺乏了解。我们以往的工作表明强直电刺激坐骨神经可引起脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位的长时程增强(long-term potentiation,LTP),该LTP被认为是病理性疼痛的突触模型。本研究的目的在于探讨急性神经损伤是否能在完整动物的脊髓背角诱发出C-纤维诱发电位LTP。在以测试刺激(10～20V,0．5ms)电刺激坐骨神经的同时在脊髓背角用微电极记录C一纤维诱发电位。分别用强直刺激、剪断或夹捏坐骨神经诱导LTP。结果发现：(1)剪断或夹捏坐骨神经都可以诱导脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位的LTP,该LTP可持续到实验结束(3～9h),在剪断神经前10min用利多卡因局部阻滞坐骨神经则可完全阻断LTP的产生;(2)神经损伤诱导的LTP可被NMDA受体阻断剂AP5所阻断;(3)用单次强直刺激引起LTP后,切断坐骨神经可使LTP的幅度进一步增大,而用多次强直电刺激使LTP饱和后,损伤神经则不能使LTP进一步增大。切断神经引起LTP后,强直电刺激也不能使LTP进一步增大。这些结果表明,急性神经损伤可以诱导脊髓背角C纤维诱发电位LTP,且切断神经能更有效地诱导LTP。该试验进一步支持我们的设想,即脊髓背角C-纤维诱发电位LTP可能在病理性疼痛的形成中起重要作用。     

刺激大鼠外侧缰核对脊髓背角神经元伤害性反应的影响

电刺激大鼠一侧外侧缰核可对脊髓疹角广动力型神经元的伤害性放电产生明显抑制;这种抑制效应可部分地被静脉注射赛庚啶及酚妥拉明所阻断,电解损毁ＬＨｂ对ＷＤＲ神经元的放电无影响,本文结果表明,ＬＨｂ参与了脊髓上结构对脊髓背角ＷＤＲ神经元伤害性反应的下行抑制,这种下行抑制为位相性抑制。     

多巴胺对大鼠背角WDR神经元的抑制不被酚妥拉明...

The inhibitory effects of dopamine (DA) applied spinally on the wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons of dorsal horn in rats were studied with extracellular recording technique. 54 WDR units were tested from 43 rats. With a dosage of DA from 0.26 x 10(-6) to 1.58 x 10(-6) mol/kg, the inhibitory effect of the neurotransmitter on the responses of dorsal horn neurons to noxious transcutaneous electrical stimulation exhibited a gradual increase. After DA (0.52 x 10(-6) mol/kg) administration, the inhibitory effect of DA began to appear in 5 min and reach to maximum in 15 min, whereupon the maximum level could be maintained for about 25 min. This effect of DA could be reversed completely by dopaminergic receptor antagonist, droperidol (0.66 x 10(-6) mol/kg) but not by 2.65 x 10(-6) mol/kg phentolamine or 1.37 x 10(-6) mol/kg naloxone. The results of the present investigation suggest that DA may be involved in the modulation of nociception at the spinal level as an independent neurotransmitter.     

The role of spinal cord vanilloid (TRPV1) receptors in pain modulation

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor is a nonselective cation channel activated by capsaicin, a pungent substance from chili peppers. It is considered to act as an integrator of various physical and chemical nociceptive stimuli, as it can be gated by noxious heat (>43 oC), low pH (protons) and also by recently described endogenous lipids. The structure and function of TRPV1 receptors was vigorously studied, especially since its cloning in 1997. However, most of the research was pointed towards the role of TRPV1 receptors in the peripheral tissues. Mounting evidence now suggests that TRPV1 receptors on the central branches of dorsal root ganglion neurons in the spinal cord may play an important role in modulation of pain and nociceptive transmission. The aim of this short review was to summarize the knowledge about TRPV1 receptors in the spinal cord dorsal horn, preferentially from morphological and electrophysiological studies on spinal cord slices and from in vivo experiments.     

刺激大脑皮层体感Ⅰ区和大脑脚对大鼠脊髓背角神经元伤害感受性反应的影响

在大鼠用玻璃微电极细胞外记录的方法,观察了刺激皮层体感Ⅰ区(SI区)和大脑脚(CP)对皮肤强电刺激诱发的脊髓背角广动力范围(WDR)神经元长潜伏期反应(C-反应)的影响。结果表明刺激SI区对背角WDR神经元C-反应的影响以抑制为主,刺激CP的作用与刺激SI区的作用相似,但刺激CP更为有效。抑制作用的持续时间在不同神经元差别很大,短者在刺激停止后仅持续400ms,长者可达10min以上。静注纳洛酮对抑制作用无明显影响,静注二甲麦角新碱在部分神经元可使抑制作用明显减弱或完全消失,提示5-HT部分参与皮层下行抑制作用的实现,而内鸦片肽则否。     

The glutamatergic nature of TRPV1-expressing neurons in the spinal dorsal horn

The transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) is expressed on primary afferent terminals and spinal dorsal horn neurons. However, the neurochemical phenotypes and functions of TRPV1-expressing post-synaptic neurons in the spinal cord are not clear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TRPV1-expressing dorsal horn neurons are glutamatergic. Immunocytochemical labeling revealed that TRPV1 and vesicular glutamate transporter-2 were colocalized in dorsal horn neurons and their terminals in the rat spinal cord. Resiniferatoxin (RTX) treatment or dorsal rhizotomy ablated TRPV1-expressing primary afferents but did not affect TRPV1- and vesicular glutamate transporter-2-expressing dorsal horn neurons. Capsaicin significantly increased the frequency of glutamatergic spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents and miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents in almost all the lamina II neurons tested in control rats. In RTX-treated or dorsal rhizotomized rats, capsaicin still increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents and miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents in the majority of neurons examined, and this effect was abolished by a TRPV1 blocker or by non-NMDA receptor antagonist. In RTX-treated or in dorsal rhizotomized rats, capsaicin also produced an inward current in a subpopulation of lamina II neurons. However, capsaicin had no effect on GABAergic and glycinergic spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic currents of lamina II neurons in RTX-treated or dorsal rhizotomized rats. Collectively, our study provides new histological and functional evidence that TRPV1-expressing dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord are glutamatergic and that they mediate excitatory synaptic transmission. This finding is important to our understanding of the circuitry and phenotypes of intrinsic dorsal horn neurons in the spinal cord.     

Spinal Autofluorescent Flavoprotein Imaging in a Rat Model of Nerve Injury-Induced Pain and the Effect of Spinal Cord Stimulation

Nerve injury may cause neuropathic pain, which involves hyperexcitability of spinal dorsal horn neurons. The mechanisms of action of spinal cord stimulation (SCS), an established treatment for intractable neuropathic pain, are only partially understood. We used Autofluorescent Flavoprotein Imaging (AFI) to study changes in spinal dorsal horn metabolic activity. In the Seltzer model of nerve-injury induced pain, hypersensitivity was confirmed using the von Frey and hotplate test. 14 Days after nerve-injury, rats were anesthetized, a bipolar electrode was placed around the affected sciatic nerve and the spinal cord was exposed by a laminectomy at T13. AFI recordings were obtained in neuropathic rats and a control group of naïve rats following 10 seconds of electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve at C-fiber strength, or following non-noxious palpation. Neuropathic rats were then treated with 30 minutes of SCS or sham stimulation and AFI recordings were obtained for up to 60 minutes after cessation of SCS/sham. Although AFI responses to noxious electrical stimulation were similar in neuropathic and naïve rats, only neuropathic rats demonstrated an AFI-response to palpation. Secondly, an immediate, short-lasting, but strong reduction in AFI intensity and area of excitation occurred following SCS, but not following sham stimulation. Our data confirm that AFI can be used to directly visualize changes in spinal metabolic activity following nerve injury and they imply that SCS acts through rapid modulation of nociceptive processing at the spinal level.     

Increased Synaptophysin Is Involved in Inflammation-Induced Heat Hyperalgesia Mediated by Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 in Rats

Mechanisms associated with cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5)-mediated heat hyperalgesia induced by inflammation remain undefined. This study was designed to examine whether Cdk5 mediates heat hyperalgesia resulting from peripheral injection of complete Freund''s adjuvant (CFA) in the spinal dorsal horns of rats by interacting with synaptophysin, a well known membrane protein mediating the endocytosis-exocytosis cycle of synaptic vesicles as a molecular marker associated with presynaptic vesicle membranes. The role of Cdk5 in mediating synaptophysin was examined through the combined use of behavioral approaches, imaging studies, and immunoprecipitation following CFA-induced inflammatory pain. Results showed that Cdk5 colocalized with both synaptophysin and soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) consisting of VAMP-2, SNAP-25, and syntaxin 1A in spinal dorsal horn of rats. Increased synaptophysin expression of spinal cord horn neurons post intraplantar injection of CFA coincided with increased duration of heat hyperalgesia lasting from 6 h to 3 d. Intrathecal administration of roscovitine, a Cdk5 specific inhibitor, significantly depressed synaptophysin expression during peak heat hyperalgesia and heat hyperalgesia induced by peripheral injection of CFA. Data presented in this report indicated that calpain activity was transiently upregulated 6 h post CFA-treatment despite previous reports suggesting that calpain was capable of cleaving p35 into p25. Results from previous studies obtained by other laboratories demonstrated that significant changes in p35 expression levels within spinal cord horn neurons were not observed in the CFA-treated inflammatory pain model although significant upregulation of Cdk5 kinase was observed between 2 h to 7 d. Therefore, generation of p25 occurred in a calpain-independent fashion in a CFA-treated inflammatory pain model. Our results demonstrated that increased synaptophysin levels were involved in heat hyperalgesia mediated by Cdk5 in spinal cord dorsal horns of CFA-treated rats, suggesting that inhibiting abnormal activation of Cdk5-synaptophysin may present a novel target for diminishing inflammatory pain.     

Differential expression of microRNAs in mouse pain models

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that inhibit translation of target genes by binding to their mRNAs. The expression of numerous brain-specific miRNAs with a high degree of temporal and spatial specificity suggests that miRNAs play an important role in gene regulation in health and disease. Here we investigate the time course gene expression profile of miR-1, -16, and -206 in mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and spinal cord dorsal horn under inflammatory and neuropathic pain conditions as well as following acute noxious stimulation.

Results

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses showed that the mature form of miR-1, -16 and -206, is expressed in DRG and the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Moreover, CFA-induced inflammation significantly reduced miRs-1 and -16 expression in DRG whereas miR-206 was downregulated in a time dependent manner. Conversely, in the spinal dorsal horn all three miRNAs monitored were upregulated. After sciatic nerve partial ligation, miR-1 and -206 were downregulated in DRG with no change in the spinal dorsal horn. On the other hand, axotomy increases the relative expression of miR-1, -16, and 206 in a time-dependent fashion while in the dorsal horn there was a significant downregulation of miR-1. Acute noxious stimulation with capsaicin also increased the expression of miR-1 and -16 in DRG cells but, on the other hand, in the spinal dorsal horn only a high dose of capsaicin was able to downregulate miR-206 expression.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that miRNAs may participate in the regulatory mechanisms of genes associated with the pathophysiology of chronic pain as well as the nociceptive processing following acute noxious stimulation. We found substantial evidence that miRNAs are differentially regulated in DRG and the dorsal horn of the spinal cord under different pain states. Therefore, miRNA expression in the nociceptive system shows not only temporal and spatial specificity but is also stimulus-dependent.

     

Changes in response properties of nociceptive dorsal horn neurons in a murine model of cancer pain

Pain associated with cancer that metastasizes to bone is often severe and debilitating. A better understanding of the neural mechanisms that mediate cancer pain is needed for the development of more effective treatments. In this study, we used an established model of cancer pain to characterize changes in response properties of dorsal horn neurons. Fibrosarcoma cells were implanted into and around the calcaneus bone in mice and extracellular electrophysiological recordings were made from wide dynamic range (WDR) and high threshold (HT) dorsal horn neurons. Responses of WDR and HT neurons evoked by mechanical, heat, and cold stimuli applied to the plantar surface of the hind paw were compared between tumor bearing mice and control mice. Mice exhibited hyperalgesia to mechanical and heat stimuli applied to their tumor-bearing hind paw. WDR neurons in tumor-beating mice exhibited an increase in spontaneous activity, and enhanced responses to mechanical, heat, and cold stimuli as compared to controls. Our findings show that sensitization of WDR neurons, but not HT neurons, contributes to tumor-evoked hyperalgesia.     

Material basis for inhibition of Dragon’s Blood on evoked discharges of wide dynamic range neurons in spinal dorsal horn of rats

In vivo experiments were designed to verify the analgesic effect of Dragon’s Blood and the material basis for this effect. Extracellular microelectrode recordings were used to observe the effects of Dragon’s Blood and various combinations of the three components (cochinchinenin A, cochinchinenin B, and loureirin B) extracted from Dragon’s Blood on the discharge activities of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) of intact male Wistar rats evoked by electric stimulation at sciatic nerve. When the Hill's coefficients describing the dose-response relations of drugs were dif-ferent, based on the concept of dose equivalence, the equations of additivity surfaces which can be applied to assess the interaction between three drugs were derived. Adopting the equations and Tal-larida's isobole equations used to assess the interaction between two drugs with dissimilar dose-response relations, the effects produced by various combinations of the three components in modulating the evoked discharge activities of WDR neurons were evaluated. Results showed that Dragon’s Blood and its three components could inhibit the evoked discharge frequencies of WDR neurons in a concentration-dependent way. The Hill's coefficients describing dose-response relations of three components were different. Only the combined effect of cochinchinenin A, cochinchinenin B and loureirin B was similar to that of Dragons Blood. Furthermore, the combined effect was synergistic. This investigation demonstrated that through the synergistic interaction of the three components Dragon’s Blood could interfere with the transmission and processing of pain signals in spinal dorsal horn. All these further proved that the combination of cochinchinenin A, cochinchinenin B, and loureirin B was the material basis for the analgesic effect of Dragon’s Blood.