Abstract
To elucidate accumulations of minerals in the human aorta and internal thoracic artery, their relative contents (RCs) of minerals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
Aortas from 47 men and 24 women subjects were examined. The ages of these subjects ranged from newborn to 99 yr. After the age of 40 yr, RCs of calcium and phosphorus began to increase, and thereafter increased stepwise in the 50s and 70s. In the 70s, their accumulations were markedly increased.
Internal thoracic arteries from 16 men and 7 women subjects were examined. These subjects ranged in age from 65–93 yr. It was found that all the RCs of calcium were low, <5.0 mg/g dry wt, and there was no age-dependent increase of calcium contents in internal thoracic arteries.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
S. Y. Yu and H. T. Blumenthal, The calcification of elastic fibers. I. Biochemical studies,J. Gerontol. 18, 119–126 (1963).
R. J. Elliott and L. T. McGrath, Calcification of the human thoracic aorta during aging,Calcif. Tissue Int. 54, 268–273 (1994).
E. L. Kanabrocki, G. Fels, and E. Kaplan, Calcium, cholesterol, and collagen levels in human aortas,J. Gerontol. 15, 383–387 (1960).
Y. Tohno, S. Tohno, T. Minami, M. Ichii, Y. Okazaki, M. Utsumi, F. Nishiwaki, Y. Moriwake, M.-o. Yamada, and T. Araki, Age-related change of mineral content in the human thoracic aorta and in the human cerebral artery,Biol. Trace Element Res. 54, 23–31 (1996).
F. D. Loop, B. W. Lytle, D. M. Cosgrove, R. W. Stewart, M. Goormastic, G. W. Williams, L. A. R. Golding, C. C. Gill, P. C. Taylor, W. C. Sheldon, and W. L. Prood-fit, Influence of the internal mammary artery graft on 10-year survival and other cardiac events,N. Engl. J. Med. 314, 1–6 (1986).
Y. Tohno, S. Tohno, H. Matsumoto, and K. Naito, A trial of introducing soft X-ray apparatus into dissection practice for students [in Japanese],J. Nara Med. Assoc. 36, 365–370 (1985).
S. Tohno, Y. Tohno, T. Minami, M. Ichii, Y. Okazaki, M. Utsumi, F. Nishiwaki, and M.-o. Yamada, Difference of mineral contents in human intervertebral disks and its age-related change,Biol. Trace Element Res. 52, 117–124 (1996).
S. Tohno, Y. Tohno, T. Minami, Y. Okazaki, M. Utsumi, F. Nishiwaki, Y. Moriwake, T. Naganuma, M.-o. Yamada, and T. Araki, High accumulation of elements in the human femoral artery,Biol. Trace Element Res. 57, 27–37 (1997).
F. H. Sims, A comparison of coronary and internal mammary arteries and implications of the results in the etiology of arteriosclerosis,Am. Heart J. 105, 560–566 (1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tohno, Y., Tohno, S., Minami, T. et al. Age-related changes of mineral contents in the human aorta and internal thoracic artery. Biol Trace Elem Res 61, 219–226 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02784032
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02784032