Exposure to an enriched environment and fucoidan supplementation ameliorate learning and memory function in rats subjected to global cerebral ischemia

An enriched environment (EE) constitutes a proficient strategy that instigates social, cognitive, and motor faculties, fostering healing and heightening learning and memory function after ischemia, while fucoidan derived from brown seaweed encompasses a diverse array of bioactivities and is known to possess neuroprotective properties. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of combining fucoidan and EE in a rat model of vascular dementia to overcome cognitive challenges. The rats were randomly assigned as Sham, Lesion - 4-vessel occlusion (4VO) i.e., transient global cerebral ischemia (tGCI), 4VO + F50mg/kg, 4VO + EE, and 4VO + F50mg/kg + EE. At the end of the study periods, the rats were exposed to the Novel object task, T-maze, and the Morris water maze. The profile of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and their dendrites was assessed through the CFV, and Golgi cox stained brain sections. Neuroinflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α) and synaptogenic markers (BDNF, SYP, PSD-95) were evaluated through western blot analysis. The levels of oxidative stress marker (LPO) and antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH, GST, GPX) in the hippocampus were quantified through biochemical assay. The findings revealed that the cognitive deficits were significantly reduced in both the 4VO + F50mg/kg and 4VO + F50mg/kg + EE treatment groups and inflammatory markers were reduced with increased antioxidant levels and synaptogenic markers when compared with the lesion group. However, through this study, the combination therapy involving fucoidan and exposure to an EE was proven effective in preserving neural integrity and restoring cognitive function against the damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation following tGCI.