Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis of calcific deposits on intrauterine contraceptive devices
Deposits found on intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) were studied by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. All seven devices, including five plastic and two copper IUDs, were coated with a crust containing cellular, acellular, and fibrillar material. The cellular material was composed of erythrocytes, leukocytes, cells of epithelial origin, sperm, and bacteria. Some of the bacteria were filamentous, with acute-angle branching. The fibrillar material appeared to be fibrin. Most of the acellular material was amorphous; calcite was identified by x-ray diffraction, and x-ray microanalysis showed only calcium. Some of the acellular material, particularly that on the IUD side of the crust, was organized in spherulitic crystals and was identified as calcium phosphate by x-ray microanalysis. The crust was joined to the IUD surface by a layer of fibrillar and amorphous material. It is suggested that the initial event in the formation of calcific deposits on IUD surfaces is the deposition of an amorphous and fibrillar layer. Various types of cells present in the endometrial environment adhere to this layer and then calcify. Thus, the deposition of calcific material on the IUDs is a calcification phenomenon, not unlike the formation of plaque on teeth.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Florida, Gainesville
- OSTI ID:
- 5243981
- Journal Information:
- Hum. Pathol.; (United States), Vol. 7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CALCIUM
DEPOSITS
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
BACTERIA
CRYSTALS
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
EPITHELIUM
ERYTHROCYTES
FIBRIN
LEUKOCYTES
PLASTICS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SPERMATOZOA
UTERUS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COAGULANTS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
DRUGS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
FEMALE GENITALS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HEMOSTATICS
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
MICROORGANISMS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROTEINS
SCATTERING
SCLEROPROTEINS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TISSUES
551001* - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques