Effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) on the porcine retina

Background To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) on the porcine retina, with respect to structural alterations, expression of proteins involved in apoptosis (bax, caspase-3, caspase-9) and gliosis (vimentin, GFAP), expression of factors which influence the development of vascular edema (VEGF, PEDF), and of membrane channels implicated in retinal osmohomeostasis (Kir4.1, aquaporin-1, aquaporin-4).