Inhibition of experimental corneal neovascularisation by bevacizumab (Avastin).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of topically administered bevacizumab (Avastin) on experimental corneal neovascularisation in rats.


METHODS
Silver nitrate sticks (75% silver nitrate, 25% potassium nitrate) were used to perform chemical cauterisation on the corneas of 16 eyes from 16 male Long Evans rats. For the following 7 days, the 10 eyes in the treatment group were instilled with bevacizumab 4 mg/ml drops twice daily, whereas the 6 eyes in the control group received placebo (normal saline drops twice daily). Digital photographs of the cornea were analysed to determine the area of cornea covered by neovascularisation as a percentage of the total corneal area.


RESULTS
In the bevacizumab-treated eyes, neovascularisation covered, on average, 38.2% (15.5%) (mean (SD)) of the corneal surface compared with 63.5% (5.0%) in the control group (p<0.02, Mann-Whitney U test).


CONCLUSIONS
Topically administered bevacizumab (Avastin) at a concentration of 4 mg/ml limits corneal neovascularisation following chemical injury in the male Long Evans rat model.
Manzano
Roberta P A
RP
Department of Ophthalmology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Peyman
Gholam A
GA
Khan
Palwasha
P
Carvounis
Petros E
PE
Kivilcim
Muhamet
M
Ren
Min
M
Lake
Jonathan C
JC
Chévez-Barrios
Patricia
P
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D008297:Male; D010781:Photography; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D012835:Silver Nitrate