Moderate Accumulation of Calcium and Phosphorus in the Splenic Artery with Aging and Low Accumulation of Those in the Pulmonary Artery with Aging

To elucidate compositional changes of the arteries with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the splenic and pulmonary arteries, which supplied blood to contractile organs. After ordinary dissection by medical students at Nara Medical University was finished, the splenic and pulmonary arteries were resected from the subjects, ranging in age from 58 to 94 years. The element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that a moderate accumulation of Ca and P occurred in the splenic artery with aging, but it hardly occurred in the pulmonary artery with aging. Regarding the relationship among elements, the finding that there were significant direct correlations among the contents of Ca, P, Mg, and Na was commonly obtained in both the splenic and pulmonary arteries. The accumulation of Ca and P in the splenic artery with aging occurred independently of that in the pulmonary artery. Histologic observation indicated that a major part of Ca deposits was seen in the middle tunica, but not in the internal tunica. Therefore, the calcification occurring in the splenic artery belonged to middle sclerosis.     

Age-related changes of elements in renal arteries of Thai and Japanese and the relationships among elements

To examine whether there were differences between reces in regard to age-related changes of elements and the relationships among elements in the arteries, the authors investigated both the renal arteries of Thai and Japanese. The Thai subjects consisted of 27 men and 11 women, ranging in age from 27 to 88 yr, whereas the Japanese subjects consisted of 19 men and 26 women, ranging in age from 61 to 99 yr. After the ordinary dissections at Chiang Mai University and Nara Medical University were completed, the bilateral renal arteries were resected and the element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. In the Thai, a slight accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the fifties, but thereafter headly increased. In contrast, in the Japanese, an accumulation of calcium and phosphorus began to occur in the seventies and increased markedly in the eighties. The result reveraled that a higher accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the renal arteries of the Japanese in old age compared with those of the Thai. Regarding the relationships among elements, extremely or very significant direct correlations were found among the contents of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium in both the renal arteries of the Thai and Japanese, except for magnesium and sodium contents in the renal arteries of the Thai.     

Age-dependent Increases of Calcium, Phosphorus, and Sodium in the Uterine Arteries of Thai

To elucidate compositional changes of the uterine artery with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the uterine arteries of Thai. After ordinary dissection by medical students at Chiang Mai University was finished, the uterine arteries were resected from Thai subjects. Thai subjects ranged in age from 27 to 86 years (average age = 63.3 +/- 17.7 years). The element content of the uterine arteries was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the Ca, P, and Na contents increased progressively in the uterine arteries of Thai with aging. A significant accumulation of Ca and P in the uterine arteries of Thai was found in the sixties patients, and the accumulation increased markedly in the seventies. Regarding the uterine arteries in subjects more than 60 years, the extent of accumulation of Ca and P in the uterine arteries of Thai was one half of that in the uterine arteries of Japanese. Regarding the relationships among elements, extremely significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Na in the uterine arteries of Thai. As Ca increased in the uterine arteries of Thai, P, Mg, Zn, and Na increased simultaneously in the arteries.     

Increases of calcium and phosphorus in the uterine arteries with aging

To elucidate compositional changes of the uterine artery with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the uterine arteries. After ordinary dissection by medical students at Nara Medical University was finished, the uterine arteries were resected from the subjects. The element content of the uterine arteries was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The subjects ranged in age from 58 to 99 yr (average age=82.7±10.1 yr). It was found that the Ca, P, and Na contents increased progressively in the uterine arteries with aging. A significant accumulation of Ca and P in the uterine arteries was found in the sixties and increased markedly in the eighties. It should be noted that as far as the arteries in those over 70 yr of age, the extent of accumulation of Ca and P was the highest in the uterine arteries within the limits of the arteries analyzed by us. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Na. As Ca increased in the uterine arteries, P, Mg, Zn, and Na increased simultaneously in the arteries.     

Age-related changes of elements in thoracic and abdominal aortas and coronary, common carotid, pulmonary, splenic, common iliac, and uterine arteries and relationships in elements among their arteries

To elucidate whether the accumulation of elements occurred simultaneously in the various arteries with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the eight arteries, such as the thoracic and abdominal aortas and the coronary, common carotid, pulmonary, splenic, common iliac, and uterine arteries, and the relationships in the element contents among their arteries. After ordinary dissection by medical students was finished, the thoracic and abdominal aortas and the coronary, common carotid, pulmonary, splenic, common iliac, and uterine arteries were resected from the subjects, who ranged in age from 58 to 94 yr. The element contents were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the accumulation of Ca was the highest in the common iliac artery and decreased in the order of the uterine artery, abdominal aorta, coronary artery, thoracic aorta, splenic artery, common carotid artery, and pulmonary artery. Regarding the relationships in the element contents among the eight arteries, it was found that there were significant direct correlations in the contents of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na between the coronary and splenic arteries, and there were significant correlations in the contents of Ca, P, and Mg between the abdominal aorta and pulmonary artery.     

Earlier accumulation of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the coronary artery in comparison with the ascending aorta, aortic valve, and mitral valve

To explore reasons for a high accumulation of Ca and P occurring in the coronary artery of Thai with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the coronary artery, ascending aorta near the heart, and cardiac valves in single individuals, and the relationships in the elements between the coronary artery and either the ascending aorta or cardiac valves. After an ordinary dissection by medical students at Chiang Mai University was finished, the anterior descending arteries of the left coronary artery, ascending aortas, mitral valves, and aortic valves were resected from the subjects. The subjects consisted of 17 men and 9 women, ranging in age from 46 to 76 yr. The element content was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The average content of Ca and P was the highest in the coronary artery and decreased in the order aortic valve, ascending aorta, and mitral valve. The Ca, P, and Mg content increased in the coronary artery in the fifties and in the ascending aorta, aortic valve, and mitral valve in the sixties. It should be noted that the accumulation of Ca, P, and Mg occurred earlier in the coronary artery than in the ascending aorta, aortic valve, and mitral valve. It was found that with respect to the Ca, P, Mg, and Na contents, the coronary artery correlated well with both the aortic valve and ascending aorta, especially with the aortic valve, but it did not correlate with the mitral valves. This finding suggests that the accumulation of Ca, P, Mg, and Na occurs in the coronary artery together with the aortic valve and ascending aorta, but not together with the mitral valve. Because regarding the accumulation of Ca, P, and Mg, the ascending aorta and aortic valve are preceded by the coronary artery, it is unlikely that the accumulation of Ca, P, and Mg spreads from the ascending aorta or aortic valve to the coronary artery.     

Gender Differences in Elements of Human Anterior Commissure and Olfactory Bulb and Tract

To examine whether there were gender differences in the various brain regions, the authors investigated the gender differences in seven element contents of the anterior commissure, mammillary body, and olfactory bulb and tract by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the anterior commissures, mammillary bodies, and olfactory bulbs and tracts were resected from the cerebra cut at median line. The brain samples were treated with 99.5% ethanol three times to remove lipids. After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the seven element contents Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na were determined by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the Zn content was significantly higher in the anterior commissures of men than in those of women. In the olfactory bulbs and tracts, it was found that the Ca, P, and Zn contents were significantly higher in men than in women. In contrast, no significant difference was found between the mammillary bodies of men and women regarding the seven element contents.     

Age-Related Differences and Relationships Between Elements in Human Amygdala and Other Limbic System or Basal Ganglia

To elucidate the compositional changes of the amygdala with aging, the authors investigated age-related differences of elements in human amygdalae. In addition, the relationships between the amygdala and other brain regions were investigated from a viewpoint of elements. After ordinary dissections at Nara Medical University were finished, the amygdalae were removed from the cerebra of the subjects who consisted of 22 men and 23 women, ranging in age from 70 to 101 years. In addition, the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, mammillary body of the limbic system and the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus of the basal ganglia were also removed from the identical cerebra. After the brain samples were incinerated with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that both the Ca and Mg contents increased significantly in the amygdalae with aging, but the other five element contents (P, S, Zn, Fe, and Na) did not change significantly in the amygdalae with aging. Regarding the relationships among elements, very significant or significant direct correlations were found among the Ca, P, and Mg contents in the amygdalae. To explore the relationships between the amygdala and either other limbic system or basal ganglia, the correlations between seven elements of the amygdala and hippocampus, dentate gyrus, or mammillary body, and between those of the amygdala and caudate nucleus, putamen, or globus pallidus which derived from the identical cerebra, were analyzed with Pearson’s correlation. It was found that regarding the four elements of Ca, P, Mg, and Fe, a close relationship existed between the amygdala and hippocampus, globus pallidus, or mammillary body.     

Relationships Among the Hippocampus,Dentate Gyrus,Mammillary Body,Fornix, and Anterior Commissure from a Viewpoint of Elements

To elucidate the relationships among the brain regions belonging to the limbic system, the authors investigated the relationships among the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, mammillary body, and fornix, using the anterior commissure as a control, from a viewpoint of elements. After ordinary dissections at Nara Medical University were finished, the hippocampi, dentate gyri, mammillary bodies, fornices, and anterior commissures were resected from identical cerebra of the subjects. The subjects consisted of 23 men and 23 women, ranging in age from 70 to 101 years (average age = 83.5 ± 7.5 years). After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. With regard to seven elements of Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, it was examined whether there were significant correlations among the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, mammillary body, fornix, and anterior commissure. It was found that there were extremely or very significant direct correlations among all of the five brain regions of the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, mammillary body, fornix, and anterior commissure in the P content. Likewise, with regard to the Fe content, there were significant direct correlations among the four brain regions belonging to the limbic system, except for the anterior commissure. In both the Ca and Zn contents, there were extremely or very significant direct correlations among the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and mammillary body of the gray matter.