FOS and Anxiety: Hippocampal and prefrontal gene expression of <i>FOS, DBH, NMB, BDNF, CREB1, GRIN2A</i>, and <i>GABRB1</i> was assessed via qPCR, and histopathological changes were semi-quantitatively scored.<h4>Results</h4>Chronic stress induced anhedonia, anxiety-like behavior, and behavioral despair, accompanied by elevated proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative imbalance, and neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.