Abstract: Background: Bevacizumab is one of the anti vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents
which has antiangiogenic and oedema-diminishing actions. It is used widely as an intravitreal solution to diminish
new vessels formation and reduce the oedema of the ocular diseases. Objectives: to evaluate the safety of an
intravitreal injection of bevacizumab on the cerebral cortex of rat. Material and methods: 20 animals were used in
the experiment. They were divided into two groups 10 animals each. Group I: rats were injected with saline as a 5
uL single injection into the vitreous cavity of the left eyes. GroupII: rats were injected with 5 uL (25 mg/mL) of
bevacizumab as a single injection into the vitreous cavity of the left eyes. Animals were sacrificed 4 days after
injection. Brain was dissected and processed for light and electron microscopy. Results: Microscopic examination
revealed various histological changes in the nerve cells. Some of them had pyknotic nuclei and acidophilic
cytoplasm. This was associated with astrocyte gliosis as well as widening of both pericellular and perivascular
spaces. Vacuolations of the neuropil was also observed. Others had irregular nuclei, numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles
and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Apparent decrease of free ribosomes was also observed. There was highly
significant increase in the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostained positive cells (astrocyte gliosis).
Conclusion: intravitreal injection of bevacizumab had toxic effect on the cerebral cortex of rat.
[Alahmady H. Al-Saman, Nesreen G. El-Haleim and Hoda M. Elsayed. The Effect of Intravitreal Bevacizumab
on the Histological Structure of the Cerebral Cortex of Male Albino Rat. J Am Sci 2013;9(12):913-919]. (ISSN: