U Schraermeyer1, P Heiduschka, K U Bartz-Schmidt. 1. Sektion für experimentelle vitreoretinale Chirurgie, Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12/1, 72076 Tübingen. ulrich.schraermeyer@med.uni-tuebingen.de
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. MATERIAL AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
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. MATERIAL AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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: M Lüke; M Warga; F Ziemssen; F Gelisken; S Grisanti; T Schneider; C Lüke; M Partsch; K U Bartz-Schmidt; P Szurman Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2006-06-05 Impact factor: 4.638
Authors: Jonathan Shahar; Robert L Avery; Gad Heilweil; Adiel Barak; Esther Zemel; Geoffrey P Lewis; Patrick T Johnson; Steven K Fisher; Ido Perlman; Anat Loewenstein Journal: Retina Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: J Mordenti; R A Cuthbertson; N Ferrara; K Thomsen; L Berleau; V Licko; P C Allen; C R Valverde; Y G Meng; D T Fei; K M Fourre; A M Ryan Journal: Toxicol Pathol Date: 1999 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.902