Nocistatin and nociceptin modulate c-Fos expression in the mice thalamus

Nocistatin and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) are two neuropeptides which may have opposite effects in several biological functions but their neuro-anatomical sites of interaction are not fully clear. We investigated interaction between the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of nocistatin and N/OFQ, on c-Fos expression in the mouse thalamus, using c-Fos immunohistochemistry. We found that co-injection of nocistatin with N/OFQ significantly modulates c-Fos expression in the thalamus. The present study strongly suggests that “Nocistatin–Nociceptin” interaction system in the thalamus may be the promising neuromodulatory sites in the investigation of unlocking their possible therapeutic circuit in nociception, memory and anxiety.