AGE-RELATED CHANGE OF MINERAL-CONTENT IN THE HUMAN THORACIC AORTA ANDIN THE HUMAN CEREBRAL-ARTERY

The relative contents (RCs) of mineral elements in aortae and cerebral arteries from 23 subjects, with ages ranging between 45 and 99 yr, we re analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry . The RCs of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the aortae increase d markedly after the age of 70. While the RC of sulfur in aortae decre ased gradually after that age. It was found that accumulation of calci um and phosphorus occurred primarily in the tunica media of aorta, and secondarily in the tunica intima. Furthermore, the RCs of calcium, ph osphorus, and magnesium in cerebral arteries increased markedly after the age of 70, whereas the RC of sulfur in cerebral arteries decreased after age 70. It was found that accumulation of calcium and phosphoru s in the cerebral arteries were 30 and 60%, respectively, lower than t hose in the aortae with ages ranging between 45 and 99 yr.