Accumulation of calcium in the arteries of Japanese monkey

To examine whether the calcium accumulation in the arteries is related to t he way of walk or not, the calcium contents were determined in various arte ries of Japanese monkeys of quadrupedal walk by inductively coupled plasma- atomic emission spectrometry. Japanese monkeys consisted of five males and four females, ranging in age from 2 to 29 yr. Age-related changes of the calcium content were examined in various monkey arteries. Significant relationships between age and calcium content were fo und in the arteries, such as the axillary, brachial, radial, subclavian, co mmon carotid, common iliac, and femoral arteries, but not statistically in the thoracic and abdominal aortas, ulnar, external iliac, internal iliac, p opliteal, and tibial arteries. The average contents of calcium were compared between the two groups of the monkeys below 14 yr and over 24 yr of age. Below 14 yr, the calcium conten t was a little higher in the arteries, such as the common, external and int ernal iliac, and femoral arteries than that of the other ones. Over 24 yr t he calcium content increased remarkably in the arteries, such as the thorac ic aorta, common, internal and external iliac, common carotid, and subclavi an arteries. The calcium contents of the thoracic aorta, common, internal a nd external iliac,common carotid, and subclavian arteries increased by more than two times over 24 yr compared with those below 14 yr. In a comparison between the calcium contents of the arteries in the anatomi cally corresponding regions of the upper and lower limbs, no statistically significant differences were found in the subjects over 24 yr as well as th e subjects 2-29 yr of age. The calcium accumulation in the arteries of monkeys with aging was differen t from those in the arteries of humans, because in the case of human, a ver y high accumulation of calcium occurred in the arteries of the lower limb w ith aging in comparison with those in the upper limbs. Therefore, it is likely that different ways of walk or different species ar e partly affected in the calcium accumulation in the arteries with aging.