Effect of Mori Cortex in the Cardiac Injury Induced by Skin Burn

This study was conducted to investigate an effect of Mori Cortex in the cardiac injury following dermal scald burn in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced scald burn (15% of total body surface area). Heart was removed at 5 h postburn and examined with biochemical assay, ultrastructural observations and stereological analysis. The activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine was increased at 5 h postburn compared with them of control. Administration of heat extracts of Mori Cortex after scald burn inhibited the production of KC (neutrophil chemoattractant cytokine) and increased the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in heart tissue. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in heart tissue was decreased both at 5 h postburn and in case of Mori Cortex administration after scald burn. Ultrastructurally, many contraction bands and separation of intercalated disk induced by scald burn were decreased by administration of heat extracts of Mori Cortex. In stereological analysis, administration of Mori Cortex after scald burn resulted the volume densities of myofibril and mitochondria were increased compared with them of burn control, These data suggest that Mori Cortex may be a useful stuff to the range of available treatments for cardiac injury induced by skin burn.