Chronic stress induces detrimental effects on cognition, behavior, and hippocampal integrity. An enriched environment (EE) has been shown to enhance learning and memory; however, its role against chronic immobilization stress (CIS)-induced alterations and the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of EE on CIS-induced behavioral, molecular, and structural changes in the hippocampus of adult male rats. Thirty-two adult male Wistar albino rats were assigned to four groups: control, control + EE, CIS, and CIS + EE. Rats were subjected to CIS (4 h/day) followed by EE exposure (2 h/day) for 28 days. Behavioral assessments were conducted. Serum corticosterone levels, hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and mRNA expression of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and glutamate receptors (GluA1 and GluA2) were evaluated …