Immune-mediated impairment of tonic immobility defensive behavior in an experimental model of colonic inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis has been associated with psychological distress and an aberrant immune response. The immunomodulatory role of systemic cytokines produced during experimental intestinal inflammation in tonic immobility (TI) defensive behavior remains unknown. The present study characterized the TI defensive behavior of guinea pigs subjected to colitis induction at the acute stage and after recovery from intestinal mucosa injury.