title: Effects of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab on nitric oxide levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the possible effects of single-dose intravitreal bevacizumab on nitric oxide (NO) levels in serum and remote organs and to reveal one of the possible mechanisms in the pathophysiology of hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight adult New Zealand albino rabbits were divided into a control group (no injection was performed, killed on day 28 of the study), group 1 (killed on day 1 of the study), group 2 (killed on day 7 of the study), group 3 (killed on day 14 of the study), and group 4 (killed on day 28 of the study). The right eyes of the animals in groups 1-4 received an intravitreal single injection of 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) bevacizumab (Avastin), and their brain, heart, liver, kidney, and blood samples were collected. NO levels were evaluated in the serum and organ homogenates. Kidney tissues were assessed by electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum, brain, kidney, and liver NO levels significantly decreased in groups 2, 3, and 4 as compared with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, heart NO levels significantly decreased in groups 3 and 4 compared with the control group (P<0.05). There were no electron microscopic changes in the kidneys of either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab decreased NO levels in serum, brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. In addition, there were no electron microscopic changes in the kidneys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dinc
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ayaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embriyology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embriyology, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D011817:Rabbits; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D009569:Nitric Oxide