Scarce Occurrence of Calcification in Human Sinoatrial Nodal Arteries in Old Age.

To elucidate age-related changes of the sinoatrial (sinuatrial) nodal (SAN) artery, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the SAN artery by direct chemical analysis. In addition, the effects of different arterial origins, arterial sizes, and genders on element accumulation were investigated in the SAN artery. Fifty-nine formalin-fixed adult Thai hearts were dissected, and the following three types of the SAN artery were found: The first type was a single SAN artery arising from the right coronary artery (RCA). The second type was a single SAN artery arising from the proximal segment of the left circumflex artery (LCX). The third type was dual SAN artery arising from both the RCA and the LCX. For element analysis, both 41 single SAN arteries arising from the RCA and the LCX and 18 larger branches of dual SAN artery were used. After the arteries were incinerated with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that seven element contents such as Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na did not change significantly in the SAN arteries with aging. Regarding the relationships among seven elements in the SAN arteries, extremely significant direct correlations were found among P, S, Mg, and Fe contents with one exception. However, no significant correlations were found between Ca and either P or Mg contents in the SAN arteries. To examine an effect of the different arterial origins on element accumulation, the SAN arteries were separated into the RCA and the LCX groups by the arterial origin and age-related changes of element contents were compared between two groups. It was found that there were no significant differences between the RCA and the LCX groups in age-related changes of Ca and P contents. No gender differences were found in age-related changes of Ca and P contents in the SAN arteries. To elucidate whether calcification occurred in the SAN arteries in old age, both the mass ratios of Ca/P and Mg/Ca were estimated in the SAN arteries. The mass ratio of Ca/P increased progressively in the SAN arteries with Ca increase, being not constant. The mass ratio of Mg/Ca decreased gradually in the SAN arteries with Ca increase, but the average mass ratio of Mg/Ca was very high, being 49.4 ± 16.5%. These results indicated that calcification scarcely occurred in the SAN arteries in old age, independently of the arterial origin and gender.

Different Accumulation of Elements in Proximal and Distal Parts of the Left Anterior Descending Artery Beneath the Myocardial Bridge.

To elucidate the action of the myocardial bridge (MB) on the coronary artery, the authors first prepared the hearts with the MB located in the middle one third of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and then investigated element accumulation in the LAD artery of the hearts with the MB by direct chemical analysis. Eighty-four formalin-fixed adult Thai hearts were dissected and the MBs were found in 39 of 84 hearts with a total of 44 MBs. The 37 MBs were located in the middle one third of the LAD artery. To examine the action of the MB on element accumulation in the LAD artery, the hearts with the MB which was located in the middle one third of the LAD artery and was longer than 1.5 cm were used as Materials. The left main coronary (LMC) and LAD arteries were removed from these hearts successively and the isolated arteries were divided into eight to ten segments. After incineration of arteries with nitric acid and perchloric acid, seven element contents of Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. To examine the endothelial changes of the LAD artery, the inner surface of segments of the LAD artery was observed by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the extent of accumulation of Ca, P, Zn, and Na was not uniform throughout the LAD artery and was higher in the proximal part than in the distal part with regard to the LAD artery beneath the MB (the tunneled LAD artery). The extent of accumulation of Ca, P, Zn, and Na in the proximal part of the tunneled LAD artery was similar to that in the segments proximal to the MB, whereas the extent of accumulation of Ca, P, Zn, and Na in the distal part of the tunneled LAD artery was similar to that in the segments distal to the MB.

Age-related decrease of the phosphorus content in the ligamentum capitis femoris of monkeys.

To elucidate compositional changes of the ligament with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) of monkeys with a wide range of ages by direct chemical analysis. Used rhesus and Japanese monkeys consisted of 9 males and 22 females, ranging in age from newborn to 31 years (average age = 10.4 ± 10.9 years). After incineration with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the P content decreased significantly in the LCFs of monkeys with aging, but other six element contents, Ca, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, did not change significantly with aging. Assuming that the P content indicated the active cell density and the S content indicated the protein amount, an age-related change of the mass ratio of P/S was examined in the LCFs. The mass ratio of P/S decreased significantly in the LCFs in childhood. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant direct correlations were found among the Ca, P, S, and Mg contents in the LCFs. It was suggested that the active cell density of the connective tissue cells might decrease significantly in the LCF in childhood.

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.

Mineral composition of and the relationships between them of human basal ganglia in very old age.

Trace elements and the relationships among them were investigated by direct chemical analysis in three basal ganglia regions in very old age individuals and age- and gender-related differences were assessed. After ordinary dissections at Nara Medical University were finished, the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus belonging to the basal ganglia were removed from the identical cerebra of the subjects who consisted of 22 men and 23 women, ranging in age from 70 to 101 years (average age = 83.3 ± 7.5 years). After incineration with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the Ca, P, and Mg contents increased significantly in the putamen with aging and the Mg content increased significantly in the globus pallidus with aging, but no elements increased significantly in the caudate nucleus with aging. Regarding the relationships among elements in the basal ganglia, extremely significant direct correlations were found among the Ca, P, and Mg contents in the putamen. These results suggested that slight calcification occurred in the putamen in very old age. With regard to seven elements of Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, it was examined whether there were significant correlations among the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus. It was found that there were extremely significant direct correlations among all of the three basal ganglia in the P content. Likewise, with regard to the Fe content, there were extremely or very significant direct correlations among all of the three basal ganglia. Regarding the gender difference in elements, it was found that the Ca content of the caudate nucleus was significantly higher in women than in men.

Accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in the coronary arteries of Thai subjects.

To clarify the manner of accumulation of Ca and P in the coronary arteries, the authors divided the coronary arteries into many segments based on arterial ramification and investigated the element contents of the segments by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissection at Chiang Mai University was finished, the left coronary (LC) and the right coronary (RC) arteries were removed successively from the hearts of Thai subjects. The Thai subjects consisted of seven men and five women, ranging in age from 42 to 87 years (average age = 73.9 ± 13.5 years). The LC and the RC arteries were divided into 19 segments based on arterial ramification. After incineration with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents of the segments were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. In two cases, a significant content of Ca and P was contained only in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery (type I). In four cases, a significant content of Ca and P was contained in both the LAD and the RC arteries (type II). In five cases, a significant content of Ca and P was contained in all the LAD, the RC, and the circumflex (CF) arteries (type III). In the other one case, no significant content of Ca and P was contained in the coronary arteries. The manner of accumulation of Ca and P in the coronary arteries was classified into the three types, I, II, and III. Regarding the average content of elements in 12 cases, the average content of Ca was the highest in the segment of the LAD artery ramifying the first left diagonal artery and was higher in the proximal and distal adjacent segments of the LAD artery ramifying the first left diagonal artery, the proximal segment of the RC artery, and the proximal segment of the CF artery. To examine an effect of arterial ramification on accumulation of Ca and P, the differences in the Ca and P content between artery-ramifying and non-ramified proximal or distal segments of the coronary arteries were analyzed with Student's t test. It was found that there were no significant differences in the Ca and P content between the artery-ramifying and non-ramified proximal or distal segments of the coronary arteries.

Characteristics of the three ligaments of human spring ligament complex from a viewpoint of elements.

To elucidate characteristics of the three ligaments constituting the spring ligament complex from a viewpoint of elements, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements, relationships among their elements, relationships among ligaments in the elements, and gender differences in the three ligaments of the spring ligament complex, the superomedial calcaneonavicular (SMCN), inferoplantar longitudinal calcaneonavicular (ICN), and third or medioplantar oblique calcaneonavicular (TCN) ligaments. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the SMCN, ICN, and TCN ligaments of the spring ligament complex were removed from the subjects. The subjects consisted of 10 men and 12 women, ranging in age from 62 to 99 years (average age = 80.5 ± 9.7 years). After incineration with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that although the Ca and P content hardly changed in the SMCN ligament with aging, the Ca and P content in the ICN ligament increased to about three and five times higher in the 80s in comparison with the 60s, respectively, whereas in the TCN ligament, it increased about 40% and 90% higher in the 80s compared with the 60s, respectively. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, and Mg in all the three ligaments of the spring ligament complex. This finding was in agreement with the previous finding obtained with the three ligaments of the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior longitudinal ligament, and ligamentum capitis femoris. Whether there were significant correlations among the three ligaments of the spring ligament complex with regard to the Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, and Fe contents was examined using Pearson's correlation. It was found that there were significant direct correlations between the SMCN and TCN ligaments in all the Ca, P, Mg, and Zn contents and also between the SMCN and ICN ligaments in both the Mg and Fe contents but not between the TCN and ICN ligaments in the six element contents. Regarding the gender difference in elements, a significant gender difference was found only in the Mg content of the SMCN ligament, being significantly higher in men than in women.

Gender difference in accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in the left coronary arteries of Thais.

To examine whether there were gender differences in compositional changes of the coronary artery with aging, the authors investigated the gender difference in age-related changes of elements in the left coronary arteries of Thais by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissections by students at Chiang Mai University were finished, the left coronary arteries were resected from Thai subjects. The Thai subjects consisted of 69 men and 34 women. The ages of the male subjects ranged from 25 to 87 years (average age = 62.6 ± 11.4 years) and of the female subjects from 24 to 86 years (average age = 59.4 ± 14.6 years). After incinerating the arteries with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the element content was determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The Ca and P contents tended to increase in the left coronary arteries of men with age, but the increases were not statistically significant. In the left coronary arteries of women, the Ca and P contents increased significantly and progressively with aging. In addition, the Na content increased significantly in the left coronary arteries of both men and women with aging. The differences in the average contents of Ca and P by age group were observed between the left coronary arteries of men and women. With Student's t test, significant gender differences in the average contents of Ca and P were found in both the 40s and the 70s. The Ca and P contents of the left coronary arteries in the 40s were significantly higher in men than in women. In contrast, the Ca and P contents in the 70s were significantly higher in women than in men. These results indicated that the accumulation of Ca and P in the left coronary arteries of Thais occurred at least 10 years earlier in men than in women, but a higher accumulation of Ca and P in old age occurred in the left coronary arteries of women compared with those of men. The present study revealed that there were significant gender differences in the left coronary arteries with regard to the accumulation of Ca and P with aging. It is reasonable to presume that taking clinical findings into consideration, the gender differences in the left coronary arteries may result from hormonal and/or genetic factors rather than lifestyle factors.

Element distribution in visual system, the optic chiasma, lateral geniculate body, and superior colliculus.

To elucidate compositional changes of the visual system with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the optic chiasma, lateral geniculate body, and superior colliculus, relationships among their elements, relationships among their brain regions from a viewpoint of elements, and gender differences in their elements by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the optic chiasmas, lateral geniculate bodies, and superior colliculi were resected from identical cerebra of the subjects. The subjects consisted of 14 men and 10 women, ranging in age from 75 to 96 years (average age = 85.6 ± 5.9 years). After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. As the result, the average content of P was significantly higher in the optic chiasma and superior colliculus compared with the lateral geniculate body. Regarding age-related changes of elements, no significant changes with aging were found in seven elements of the optic chiasma, lateral geniculate body, and superior colliculus in the subjects more than 75 years of age. The findings that with regard to the relationships among elements, there were extremely significant direct correlations between Ca and Zn contents and significant inverse correlations between Mg and Na contents were obtained in common in all of the optic chiasma, lateral geniculate body, and superior colliculus. It was examined whether there were significant correlations among the optic chiasma, lateral geniculate body, and superior colliculus in the seven elements and the following results were obtained: There were significant direct correlations between the optic chiasma and lateral geniculate body in both the P and Mg contents; there was a significant direct correlation between the optic chiasma and superior colliculus in the Fe content; and a significant direct correlation was found between the lateral geniculate body and superior colliculus in the Mg content. Regarding the gender differences in elements, it was found that both the Ca and Zn contents of the lateral geniculate body were significantly higher in women than in men.

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.

Gender differences in the phosphorus content of the sino-atrial nodes and other cardiac regions of monkeys.

To examine whether there were gender differences in the sino-atrial node (SAN), the authors investigated the gender difference in the SAN using monkey hearts by direct chemical analysis from a viewpoint of element contents. The used rhesus and Japanese monkeys consisted of 30 males (average age=6.5±7.5 years) and 30 females (average age=12.2±10.3 years), ranging in age from newborn to 30 years. The SAN tissues were removed from the anatomical position of monkey hearts and were confirmed by means of histological observation. After ashing with nitric acid and with perchloric acid, element contents of the SANs, such as Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. In addition, gender differences in the right atrial walls, left ventricular walls, mitral valves, and left coronary arteries of monkeys were also investigated as controls. It was found that the P content was significantly higher in females than in males in the SANs of monkeys, but the other six element contents, Ca, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, were not significantly different between males and females in the SANs of monkeys. Regarding the P content, a similar finding was also obtained in both the right atrial walls and the left ventricular walls of monkeys, but it was not obtained in the mitral valves and the left coronary arteries of monkeys. The P content of tissue is mostly determined by the nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) content and the phospholipid content of tissue. Nucleic acids in the cell nucleus and the cytosol, and phospholipids in the cell membrane are all indicators of metabolically active cells. It is reasonable to presume that the P content in the SAN indicates the active cell density, namely, the number of active cells per volume. Therefore, there is a possibility that the active cell density of the SAN is significantly higher in females than in males.

Gender-related differences in a process of the age-dependent alterations of the elements in monkey sino-atrial node.

Gender differences in the trace elements of monkey sino-atrial (SA) node were investigated in a process of age-dependent alterations. Sixty hearts from Japanese and rhesus monkeys (30 male and 30 female) used were aged ranging from 1-day- to 30-year-old. The elements were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). Advancing age decreased all the trace elements. Ca, P, S and Mg significantly decreased. The correlation coefficients of Ca and P were -0.178±0.081 (p<0.05) and -0.088±0.022 (p<0.05) in male (n=30), and -0.095±0.026 (p<0.05) and -0.069±0.017 (p<0.05) in female (n=30), respectively. The age-dependent coefficients for Fe/Ca, Zn/Ca, Fe/P, Fe/S, Zn/S, Fe/Mg and Zn/Mg were exhibited markedly in male, but all was less in female. In gender-related differences, only a ratio of P/Ca (p<0.05) was significantly observed with ageing. The trace elements such as Cu, Se and Sn were less detected in the SA nodes. These results indicate that the age-dependent changes in the ratios of elements are appeared more rapidly in male monkey SA node, and the gender difference is observed in ratio of P/Ca. The different attenuations may be involved with the age- and gender-related SA nodal functions.

Age-related changes of elements and relationships among elements in human hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and fornix.

To elucidate compositional changes of the limbic system with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and fornix and the relationships among elements by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissections at Nara Medical University were finished, the hippocampi, dentate gyri, and fornices were resected from identical cerebra of the subjects which consisted of 23 men and 23 women, ranging in age from 70 to 101 years. After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The average contents of P, Zn, and Na were significantly less in both the hippocampi and dentate gyri compared with the fornices. It was found that the Ca and Mg contents increased significantly in the hippocampus with aging; the P content increased significantly in the dentate gyrus with aging, whereas the Na content decreased in the dentate gyrus with aging; and the Mg content increased significantly in the fornix with aging. Regarding the relationships among elements, a significant direct correlation between Ca and Fe contents and an extremely significant inverse correlation between P and Zn contents were found in both the hippocampi and dentate gyri. In addition, a significant direct correlation between P and Mg contents was found in both the hippocampi and fornices. Pearson's correlation was used to examine whether there were elements with significant correlation among the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, fornix, and mammillary body. Significant correlations were found in five elements of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Fe except for S and Na among the hippocampus, dentate gyrus, and mammillary body with one exception. Regarding the fornix, significant correlations were found in two elements of P and Fe between the fornix and hippocampus, dentate gyrus, or mammillary body.

Age-related changes of elements in the tendons of the peroneus longus muscles in Thai, Japanese, and monkeys.

To elucidate compositional changes of the tendon of the peroneus longus muscle with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the insertion of tendons of the peroneus longus muscle (peroneus longus tendons) in Thai, Japanese, and monkeys and the relationships among element contents by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissections at Chiang Mai University and Nara Medical University were finished, the peroneus longus tendons were resected from the subjects. The peroneus longus tendons were also resected from rhesus and Japanese monkeys bred in Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University. The wraparound regions of the insertion tendons of the peroneus longus muscle in contact with the cuboid bone were used as the peroneus longus tendon. After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined with an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer. It was found that there were no significant correlations between age and the seven elements, such as Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, in the peroneus longus tendons of Thai and Japanese. The Ca content higher than 10 mg/g was contained in seven cases out of 34 peroneus longus tendons of Thai (incidence = 20.6%) and in one case out of 22 peroneus longus tendons of Japanese (incidence = 4.5%), respectively. All of the peroneus longus tendons with the Ca content higher than 10 mg/g were found in Thai and Japanese men. In the peroneus longus tendons of monkeys, the Ca and P content increased suddenly at 2 years of age and reached to about 40 mg/g at 5 years of age. Thereafter, the Ca and P content did not increase in the peroneus longus tendons of monkeys at old age. Regarding the relationships among element contents, significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Na in Thai and monkeys, whereas significant inverse correlations were found between S and element contents, such as Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Na, in Thai and monkeys.

Age-related changes of elements in the anterior commissures and the relationships among their elements.

To elucidate compositional changes of the anterior commissure with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the anterior commissures and the relationships among their elements. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the anterior commissures were resected from 45 subjects, ranging in age from 70 to 101 years. The subjects consisted of 22 men and 23 women. After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, the element content of the anterior commissures was determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The seven element contents of Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na did not change significantly in the anterior commissures with aging. Regarding the relationships among their element contents, significant correlations were found among the contents of Ca, Mg, Zn, and Na in the anterior commissures. The gender difference that the Zn content was significantly higher in men than in women was found in the anterior commissure.

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.

Calcium increase in the mammillary bodies with aging.

To elucidate compositional changes of the mammillary body with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements, relationships among their elements, and gender differences in the mammillary bodies by direct chemical analysis. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the mammillary bodies were resected from the cerebra of the subjects. The subjects consisted of 19 men and 25 women, ranging in age from 70 to 101 years (average age = 83.8 +/- 7.2 years). After ashing of the mammillary bodies with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that the Ca content increased slightly and significantly in the mammillary bodies with aging, but the P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na contents did not change significantly with aging. Regarding the relationships among elements, significant correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, S, and Mg in the mammillary bodies, with one exception between P and Mg contents. With regard to the seven element contents, no significant gender differences were found in the mammillary bodies.

Discrimination of bullet types using analysis of lead isotopes deposited in gunshot entry wounds.

In order to discriminate bullet types used in firearms, of which the victims died, the authors investigated lead isotope ratios in gunshot entry wounds from nine lead (unjacketed) bullets, 15 semi-jacketed bullets, and 14 full-jacketed bullets by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. It was found that the lead isotope ratio of 207/206 in gunshot entry wounds was the highest with lead bullets, and it decreased in order from full-jacketed to semi-jacketed bullets. Lead isotope ratios of 208/206 or 208/207 to 207/206 at the gunshot entry wound were able to discriminate semi-jacketed bullets from lead and full-jacketed ones, but it was difficult to discriminate between lead and full-jacketed bullets. However, a combination of element and lead isotope ratio analyses in gunshot entry wounds enabled discrimination between lead, semi-jacketed, and full-jacketed bullets.

Age-related changes of the concentrations of select elements in the prostates of Japanese.

To elucidate compositional changes of the prostate with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the prostates and the relationships among their elements using Japanese and Thai. After ordinary dissections by students at Nara Medical University and Chiang Mai University were finished, the prostates were resected from the subjects. Fifty-seven Japanese subjects ranged in age from 65 to 101 years (average age = 82.5 +/- 7.8 years), whereas 13 Thai subjects ranged in age from 43 to 86 years (average age = 67.9 +/- 11.9 years). After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that although there were no significant correlations between age and seven element contents, such as Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, in the prostates of Japanese, high contents of Ca (>5 mg/g) and P (>4 mg/g) were contained in one fourth of the prostates of Japanese over 70 years of age. In the prostates of Thai, a significant direct correlation was found between age and Ca content, but it was not found between age and the other element contents, such as P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na. Regarding the relationships among their elements, extremely significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Na in the prostates of Japanese. In the prostates of Thai, significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, Mg, and Zn, but no significant correlations were found between Ca and P contents and between P and Mg contents. Regarding the relationships among their elements, there were differences between the prostates of Japanese and Thai. To examine whether element contents changed in prostatic hypertrophy, the transverse width of the Japanese prostates was measured. No significant correlations were found between the transverse width and element contents, such as Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na, in the Japanese prostates. Therefore, it is unlikely that the increase of elements results in prostatic hypertrophy.

Age-related changes of elements in human olfactory bulbs and tracts and relationships among their contents.

To elucidate compositional changes of the olfactory bulb and tract with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the olfactory bulbs and tracts of Japanese and the relationships among the elements. After ordinary dissection at Nara Medical University was finished, the olfactory bulbs were resected with the olfactory tracts from 40 subjects. The subjects consisted of 15 men and 25 women, ranging in age from 65 to 102 years (average age = 84.6 +/- 7.5 years). After ashing with nitric acid and perchloric acid, element contents in the olfactory bulbs and tracts were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Seven elements of Ca, P, S, Mg, Zn, Fe, and Na did not change significantly in the olfactory bulbs and tracts with aging. The Ca, P, and S contents of major elements were less than 10 mg/g in all of the olfactory bulbs and tracts. Regarding the relationships among the elements, extremely or very significant direct correlations were found among the contents of Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Na in the olfactory bulbs and tracts, with one exception. In addition, an extremely significant direct correlation was found between S and Mg contents and a very significant direct correlation was found between P and S contents. As P increased in the olfactory bulb and tract, Ca, Mg, Zn, Na, and S also increased in the olfactory bulb and tract.