Mineralogical characteristics and distribution patterns of different types of calcification in a cerebrovascular atherosclerotic lesion

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.5.52

Abstract

Abstract:

Cerebral artery calcification is an important indication of atherosclerotic plaques and closely related to the atherosclerotic process. In the cerebral artery, calcification mostly appears as spherical or massive mineral aggregates, but the difference between these two types and their spatial distribution patterns in an atherosclerotic lesion are still not clear. Therefore, we collected and analyzed samples with different stages of calcification by environmental scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and Raman spectroscopy (Raman). We studied the morphology, structure and spatial distribution of phase and chemical composition of calcification in the atherosclerotic plaque. The results showed that the center of the calcified area develops massive calcification and its surrounding develops spherical calcification. The center of massive calcification is composed of carbonate hydroxyapatite (CHA) while the edge also contains small fraction of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). Spherical calcification is composed of whitlockite (WH) and CHA.

Key words: cerebral artery, atherosclerotic plaques, spherical calcification, carbonate hydroxyapatite, whitlockite

CLC Number:

LI Yuan, WANG Changqiu, LU Anhuai, LI Yan, YANG Chongqing, LI Kang. Mineralogical characteristics and distribution patterns of different types of calcification in a cerebrovascular atherosclerotic lesion[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2020, 27(5): 291-299.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig.1 HE stained cerebral artery sections with calcification stained in purple

Fig.2 SEM images of spherical calcification

Fig.3 SEM images of the massive calcification center (a) and edge (b) areas

Fig.4 SEM images showing the distribution of different types of calcification in an atherosclerotic lesion

Fig.5 Box plot of Ca/P (At ratio) by calcification type

Fig.6 TEM images of spherical calcification (a,c) and corresponding electron diffraction pattern (b,d)

Fig.7 TEM (a) and SAED (b) image of massive calcification and the related electron diffraction pattern (c)

Fig.8 Raman spectra of calcification. (a) WH in spherical calcification; (b) CHA in spherical calcification; and (c) CHA in massive calcification. 。

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