Objectives: Sepsis is a serious worldwide condition due to its high mortality rate in hospitals. The key organ in the body's response to sepsis is the adrenal gland which responds to the adrenocorticotrophic hormone by the production of large amounts of corticosteroids, resulting in the activation of a catabolic state, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory effects.
Aim of the Work: To study the cinnamon extract effects on the adrenal cortex of cecal slurry-induced sepsis in rats.
Material and Methods: Sixty-six rats; six were used as donors for slurry. Five groups were formed with the rest; control (I), cinnamon extract (II), experimentally induced sepsis (III), cinnamon pretreated (IV) and cinnamon pre and post-treated septic (V) groups. sepsis induction in groups (III, IV and V) was done by cecal slurry. Scarification of animals was done at the end of the fifth week of the experiment except for group V, animals were sacrificed five days later from sepsis induction. Serum levels of aldosterone and corticosterone were measured. Also, MPO, MDA and TNF-α levels have been estimated in adrenal homogenates of all groups. H&E was performed on the adrenals in all groups, Mallory's trichrome and immunohistochemical stains for caspase3, CD44 and iNOS. Also, were examined by electron microscope. Cortical thickness, area % of collagen deposition, Caspase-3, CD44 and iNOS immunoreaction have been estimated and data were analyzed statistically.
Results: Septic group showed some deaths. But, survivors of group III revealed features of Zona glomerulosa and fasciculata inflammatory degeneration with increased levels of serum aldosterone, corticosterone, tissue MPO, MDA, and TNF-α. Also, group III revealed a marked increase in caspase3, CD44 and iNOS immunoreaction. Groups IV and V showed improvement in all previous parameters.
Conclusion: Cecal slurry-induced sepsis caused massive Zona glomerulosa and fasciculata inflammatory changes that were improved by the orally administrated cinnamon extract.