Effects of treadmill exercise and chronic stress on anxiety‐like behavior, neuronal activity, and oxidative stress in basolateral amygdala in morphine‐treated rats

Abstract The basolateral amygdala (BLA), which is sensitive to stress, is necessary for reward‐seeking behavior and addiction. Regular exercise can produce various positive effects by affecting the BLA. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of chronic stress and treadmill running (TR) on anxiety‐like behavior, neuronal activity, lipid peroxidation (measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a marker for oxidative stress), and total thiol in BLA, in morphine‐treated rats. Male Wistar rats were restricted in restraint stress and/or ran on the treadmill and treated with morphine (5 mg/kg) for 21 days. Anxiety‐like behavior was evaluated using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field tests (OFTs), on day 22. On day 23, neuronal activity in BLA was assessed via single‐unit recording. Finally, MDA and total thiol were assessed in BLA. Our results showed that chronic administration of morphine (5 mg/kg) did not affect anxiety‐like behavior. However, the morphine‐treated rats, subjected to chronic stress and exercise, showed fewer anxiety‐like behaviors. Morphine increased BLA's MDA levels but it was prevented by TR. Glutamatergic and GABAergic basal neuronal activities were low in morphine‐treated rats but after acute morphine application, there was a significant decrease in GABAergic neuronal activities in the morphine‐exercise‐stress (Mor‐Exe‐St) group. The results of this study showed that in morphine‐treated rats, stress and exercise or their combination could have either co‐directional or opposite effects to the chronic effects of morphine. These results indicate the existence of common pathways similar to endogenous opioids.