title: [Localisation of bevacizumab in the monkey retina after an intravitreal injection of Avastin].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim was to investigate to what extent the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab is able to penetrate the retina in primates after an intravitreal injection of Avastin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were injected intravitreally with radioactively labelled and free Avastin. The animals were sacrificed 1, 4, 7, or 14 days after the injection, and the eyes were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. Blood samples were also taken on several days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the fundoscopic images, no pathologic changes could be found during the experiment. Using immunohistochemistry, bevacizumab was found in the choroid and the inner layers of the retina 1 day after the injection. Bevacizumab penetrated more quickly in the fovea than in the rest of the retina. It was also encountered in the photoreceptors and blood vessels. When (125)I-labelled Avastin was used, radioactivity could be determined in the blood serum 1 day after the injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the bevacizumab molecule can penetrate the retina after intravitreal injection of Avastin. However, there is an active uptake in the retinal cells.
authors.affiliation: Sektion für experimentelle vitreoretinale Chirurgie, Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen. ulrich.schraermeyer@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schraermeyer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heiduschka
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Bartz-Schmidt
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007267:Injections; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab
references.citation: Retina. 2008 Jan;28(1):46-55
references.pmid: 18185137
references.citation: Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Apr;143(4):601-6
references.pmid: 17306753
references.citation: Doc Ophthalmol. 2008 Mar;116(2):129-35
references.pmid: 17960440
references.citation: Toxicol Pathol. 1999 Sep-Oct;27(5):536-44
references.pmid: 10528633
references.citation: Retina. 2006 Mar;26(3):270-4
references.pmid: 16508425
references.citation: Int Ophthalmol. 2008 Apr;28(2):101-9
references.pmid: 17634860
references.citation: Br J Ophthalmol. 2006 Sep;90(9):1178-82
references.pmid: 16754646
references.citation: Retina. 2006 Oct;26(8):882-8
references.pmid: 17031287
references.citation: Retina. 2006 Mar;26(3):262-9
references.pmid: 16508424
references.citation: Retina. 2006 Mar;26(3):257-61
references.pmid: 16508423
references.citation: Am J Ophthalmol. 2007 Jun;143(6):995-1002
references.pmid: 17449002
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Apr;48(4):1773-81
references.pmid: 17389511
references.citation: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Apr 10;23(11):2574-6
references.pmid: 15795413
references.citation: Doc Ophthalmol. 2007 Jan;114(1):37-44
references.pmid: 17216267
references.citation: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2007 Jun;48(6):2814-23
references.pmid: 17525217