Placental calcification: ultrastructural and X-ray microanalytic studies.

Calcification is common in human placentas and is widely recognized as a normal part of maturation and aging of this organ. Eleven human placentas were studied by light and electron microscopy to elucidate the mechanism of placental calcification. Earliest mineral deposits were seen along the trophoblastic basement membrane of the chorionic villi undergoing fibrinoid degeneration. Transmission electron microscopic examination revealed crystalline deposits within small membrane-bound vesicles; the latter appear to be derived from degenerating cells and were particularly numerous within the basement membrane. X-ray microanalysis of these deposits revealed calcium and phosphorus peaks and the pattern of calcium hydroxyapatite was noted by electron diffraction. This pattern of calcification, i.e., precipitation of calcium hydroxyapatite in association with extracellular membrane bound vesicles, is similar to that seen in physiologic and pathologic calcifications of other tissues.