2Prof. Dr., Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Göz Hastalıkları, İzmir, Türkiye
3Yrd. Doç. Dr., İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Fizyoloji, İstanbul, Türkiye
4Prof. Dr., Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Histoloji ve Embriyoloji, İzmir, Türkiye
5Prof. Dr., Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fizyoloji, İzmir, Türkiye Purpose: To investigate the possible vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition effects of edaravone and to compare bevacizumab on diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: Thirty-six adult male Sprague Dawley rats were used in the study. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After 4 weeks of treatment, the rats were euthanized and blood samples were collected for vascular endothelial growth factor assay. Additionally, enucleation was performed for vascular endothelial growth factor immunohistochemistry and outer nuclear layer measurements.
Results: Treatments with both bevacizumab and edaravone signifi cantly decreased outer nuclear layer thickness and retinal vascular endothelial growth factor expression compared to serum physiologic groups. In addition, plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels were signifi cantly reduced in both bevacizumab and edaravone treated groups compared to the serum physiologic group.
Conclusions: Intraperitoneal and intravitreal bevacizumab and intraperitoneal ederavone could diminish the progression of diabetic retinopathy. These findings suggest that edaravone may become one of the therapeutic candidates of diabetic retinopathy in the future.
Keywords : Bevacizumab, diabetic retinopathy, edaravone, experimental, rat