Ovine fetal telencephalic white matter necrosis.

Discrete foci of white matter necrosis were observed in the telencephalic white matter in 6 cases of spontaneous ovine abortion. All fetuses were in the third trimester of gestation and 2 of the 6 were term fetuses. The lesions were distributed randomly throughout the cerebrocortical white matter and consist of pale hypocellular plaques with a variable glial cell response and encrustation of necrotic cellular processes. A variety of additional lesions were present in the brains of the aborted fetuses. The lesions of telencephalic white matter necrosis have not been reported previously and are unlike those associated with known viral infections of the developing fetus. Based on the character of the lesions, a hypoxic-ischemic or hypotensive mechanism is suggested. The lesions are compared with a similar condition in human fetuses and neonates.