Multimodal assessment of human brain calcification with respect to parenteral calcium gluconate in stressed neonates.
Parenteral calcium may augment the degree of calcification within brains of human neonates (p less than 0.01). This observation is supported by histochemistry, atomic absorption of ashed brain, selected area diffraction, and energy dispersive microanalysis. Survival analysis indicates that a standard replacement dose may have an adverse effect of severely stressed neonates (p less than 0.01). Nuclei within the optic-tract, circumferential pons and temporal lobe showed calcium salt deposits before other cytologic evidence of necrosis was discernible. Most calcification occurred in regions of ongoing necrosis primarily in the neuropil. But Purkinje cell and supraoptic neurons and apparent neurons from the fascia dentata, Ammon's Horn, were densely calcified in several brains. In those infants surviving longer periods both the neuropil and nuclei of glial scar stained for calcium salts.
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005942:Gluconates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
D005942:Gluconates; D002125:Calcium Gluconate