The role of basolateral amygdala in the regulation of stress-induced phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression in the hippocampus

► Effect of amygdala lesion on the stress-induced GR translocation in the hippocampus. ► Effect of amygdala lesion on the stress-induced alteration of pERK in the hippocampus. ► Amygdala lesions selectively blocked the stress-induced alterations of pERK. ► Stress-induced hippocampal GR translocation occurred in rats with amygdala lesions. ► Amygdala modulates stress-induced cognitive impairments regulating the ERK signaling.