Abstract
Purpose: :
To check by electroretinography whether intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin ®) is safe with regard to retinal function in adult mice.
Methods: :
In a double–blinded approach, 1 µl of either saline or a solution containing 25 µg Avastin was injected intravitreally in adult C57BL6 mice transclerally. In a third group of animals, sham surgery was performed. Electroretinograms were recorded before the injection, and 1, 4, 12 and 25 days afterwards. Finally, the eyes were collected and examined histologically.
Results: :
Amplitudes of photopic and scotopic b–waves as well as oscillatory potentials were decreased similarly after intravitreal injection of saline or sham surgery. In contrast, amplitudes of photopic b–waves and oscillatory potentials did not decrease after injection of Avastin. Moreover, the amplitudes of decreased scotopic b–waves recovered within one or two weeks if Avastin had been injected, whereas the recovery of decreased amplitudes was noticeably slower after sham surgery or injection of saline. No significant changes were observed in the implicit times.
Conclusions: :
Transscleral intravitreal injection damages the retina locally, which leads to a partial decrease of electroretinographic amplitudes. Not only does intravitreally injected Avastin not impair retinal function, it also appears to protect the retina from the deleterious side effects of retinal damage associated with a transscleral injection.
Keywords: ocular irritancy/toxicity testing • electroretinography: non-clinical • neovascularization