title: Intravitreal bevacizumab in pigmented rabbit eyes: histological analysis 90 days after injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate bevacizumab toxicity in neurosensorial retina and retinal pigment epithelium in pigmented rabbit eyes by means of histological studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty eyes of fifteen rabbits were distributed into three groups: sham group (S), that received a 0.1 ml balanced saline solution (BSS) intravitreal injection (10 eyes); group 1, that received a 1.25 mg (0.1 ml) bevacizumab intravitreal injection (10 eyes); and group 2, that received a 2.5 mg (0.1 ml) bevacizumab intravitreal injection (10 eyes). Rabbits were sacrificed 90 days after the procedure and both eyes of each rabbit were enucleated. A histological examination of neurosensorial retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) was performed. Its morphological features and layer thickness were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No histological differences in neurosensorial retina or in retinal pigmented epithelium were found and layer thickness did not differ significantly between balanced saline solution-injected eyes and bevacizumab-injected eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After a 90-day follow-up period, a single 1.25 or 2.5 mg bevacizumab intravitreal injection did not lead to toxic damage in the neurosensorial retina and retinal pigment epithelium of pigmented rabbit eyes, and it appears to be a safe procedure for retinal neovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, TO, Brazil. arraes.joao@gmail.com
authors.forename: João Carlos Diniz
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Arraes
authors.forename: Roberto Carlos
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tedesco
authors.forename: Tatiana Azevedo
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Arraes
authors.forename: Elilson Batista da
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: Marcos Pereira de
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Avila
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab