Efficiency of photodynamic therapy and Avastin in treatment of corneal neovascularization in rabbit's eye

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) by using argon laser with rose bengal (Herbs) as a photosensitizer when compared to the Avastin for treatment of corneal neovascularization (CNV) in rabbits. Thirty-Nine New Zealand male rabbits aged 2.5 months and weighing 2.5-3 kg are selected from the animal house of research institute of ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt. Three rabbits are used as control, and 36 rabbits are subjected to corneal neovascularization (CNV) induced by 3 silk sutures at mid-stromal depth approximately 1 mm from the limbus. After four days, sutures are removed and slit lamp examinations are performed to determine the area of CNV. Rabbits with CNV are divided into 3 groups: (1) The first group left without any treatment(n=12); (2) The second group (n=12 rabbits) were generally anesthetized and rose bengal(C20H4Cl4I4O5) with a dose of 50 mg/Kg was administered by slow intravenous injection in the marginal ear vein. After 15 minutes, rabbit’s eyes were exposed to argon laser(Quantel-Medical, Vitra, France) in a pulsed mode at 532 nm, spot size of 50 μm, pulse duration of 0.2 ms and a power of 150-200 mW/cm 2.; (3) The third group are treated with subconjunctival injection of 25 mg Avastin (n=12). The rabbits are followed up for 4 weeks and 3 rabbits are selected and sacrificed weekly from each group. The corneas are isolated for determination of protein content, SDS-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidative capacity (TOC). Final results show that avastin is almost as effective as photodynamic therapy.