Decreased brain noradrenaline in minimal hepatic encephalopathy is associated with cognitive impairment in rats

•Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) induced spatial memory impairment in rats.•Iron homeostasis becomes dysregulated during MHE, leading to iron overload.•MHE disturbed the levels of inflammatory cytokine and noradrenaline level in the hippocampus.•Iron overload, cytokine levels, noradrenaline level and memory deficits were associated with MHE.