Aims. This study determined the effects of a single dose of
bevacizumab, an antiangiogenic recombinant
monoclonal antibody that specifically targets
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF), on adhesion formation in the rat cecal abrasion model. Methodology. Thirty female Wistar albino rats (200-224 g) were divided into three groups. All rats underwent
laparotomy at which time cecal wall abrasion and abdominal wall
injuries were induced. Group I (control) underwent only the abrasion procedure; Groups II and III received saline or
bevacizumab intraperitoneally, respectively, following the abrasion. The rats were killed on postoperative day 7, and the severity of adhesions was evaluated, together with histopathological
fibrosis parameters and immunohistochemical staining to identify the
VEGF receptor. Results. The mean adhesion severity score in Groups I-III was 2.5 ± 0.52, 2.4 ± 0.69, and 0.7 ± 0.82, respectively; the score in Group III was significantly lower than that in Groups I (P < 0.001) and II (P < 0.001). In the histopathological evaluation, the mean
fibrosis score in Group III was significantly lower that the scores in Groups I (P < 0.001) and II (P < 0.001).
VEGF staining of the adhesion areas in Group III was significantly lower than that in Groups I (P < 0.001) and II (P < 0.001). Conclusion.
Bevacizumab decreases adhesion formation following
laparotomy in rats by blocking
VEGF receptor occupancy.