Tactile stimulation of adult rats modulates hormonal responses, depression-like behaviors, and memory impairment induced by chronic mild stress: role of angiotensin II.

•Chronic mild unpredictable stress increased depressive-like behavior.•Chronic mild unpredictable stress induces cognitive impairment.•Chronic mild unpredictable stress increased hypothalamic angiotensin II.•Handling and losartan cancelled behavior responses induced by stress.•Handling and losartan decreased and cancelled respectively stress-induced hypothalamic angiotensin II secretion.