Fucoidin effect on infarction size following middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion

Abstract

Stroke is a significant health problem in the U.S. Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion initiates an inflammatory cascade, resulting in early leukocyte accumulation that leads to additional cell injury. During reperfusion, selectin adhesion molecules mediate the initial attachment of leukocytes to endothelium. Fucoidin blocks selectin interaction with their ligands and therefore decreases damaging leukocyte accumulation during postischemic reperfusion. Little is known about the effects of selectin inhibition after reperfused stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of selectin adhesion molecule blockade on cerebral infarction size and neurological function in an animal model of stroke. The filament method was used to induce stroke ( 4 hours) and reperfusion (24 hours) in control (n = 9) and fucoidin treated (n = 9) groups. The results of this study indicate that selectin blockade significantly reduced cerebral infarction size (p < 0.001) and improved neurological function (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that attenuating the leukocyte-mediated inflammatory response after stroke may be beneficial.