Ferritin immunohistochemical study on pontine nuclei from infants with pontosubicular neuron necrosis.

Immunohistochemical ferritin staining was performed on pontine nuclei of the brains of 17 infants with pontosubicular neuron necrosis (PSN), aged 23 to 42 weeks of gestation. Ferritin-positive cells were increased in cases of karyorrhexis with spongy changes and gliosis, but not in those of selective karyorrhexis. Ferritin-positive cells were more increased in the cases with extensive karyorrhectic neurons. Iron may be released to the damaged pontine tissue as a catalyst and microglia may play an important role in the repair of the tissue.