Elements of calcified sites in human thoracic aorta

To elucidate the manner of element accumulation in the arteries with aging, the authors investigated the element contents in the calcified and surrounding sites of the thoracic aortas by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The subjects consisted of three men and five women, ranging in age from 45 to 99 yr. The calcified, calcification-surrounding, and control (which appeared normal) sites were removed from the thoracic aortas and the element contents were determined. It was found that the contents of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and aluminum were higher in the calcified site than in the control site, whereas the contents of sulfur, iron, and lead were lower in the calcified site than in the control site. The contents of the elements in the surrounding site were intermediate between those of the calcified and control sites, except for the magnesium and lead contents, which were the lowest. The mass ratios of magnesium to calcium and phosphorus were lower in the calcified site compared with the surrounding and control sites, and as calcium and phosphorus increased in the aorta, the mass ratios lowered gradually in the aorta.