Fig. 4

Intestinal inflammation induces persistent impairments in declarative memory in Sham-injured mice. Objects used during NOR testing a. TBI mice spent less time exploring the novel object (NO) prior to the onset of DSS administration (PTD25-27). No significant changes in NO PI were observed in Sham-injured mice b. Sham+DSS mice exhibited a significant reduction in the time spent with the NO compared to Sham mice, beginning during the DSS injury phase c and persisting through the fourth week of the recovery phase d. Further reduction in time spent with the NO in TBI + DSS vs TBI mice was not observed c, d. No significant changes were observed in Naïve+DSS mice. Data expressed as mean ± s.e.m (n = 31–42/group Pre-DSS; n = 15–21/group DSS injury/recovery phases). b **** p < 0.0001 vs Naïve/Sham; c,d * p < 0.05 vs Sham ,**p < 0.01 vs Naïve/Sham, **** p < 0.0001 vs Naïve, ^ p < 0.05 vs Naïve+DSS, ^^ p < 0.01 vs Naïve+DSS, ^^^ p < 0.001 vs Naïve+DSS, + p < 0.05 vs Sham