Neuroprotective Effect of Fucoidan against N -methyl-D-aspartate-Induced Excitotoxicity in Rat Hippocampus

Fucoidan, a sulfated polyanionic polymer of L-fucose, is obtained from brown marine macroalgae. In the present study, neuroprotective effect of fucoidan against N-methylD-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity in the hippocampus was investigated. The patch clamp study revealed that fucoidan significantly inhibited NMDA receptor-activated ion current in the acutely dissociated hippocampal CA1 neurons. In an organotypic hippocampal slice culture, fucoidan inhibited NMDA-induced neuronal cell death in a dose-dependent manner. The present study showed that fucoidan possesses a neuroprotective effect against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity, and that the suppressive effect of fucoidan on the NMDA-induced ion current can be suggested as being the underlying neuroprotective mechanism of fucoidan.