[Changes of bone marrow arteries with aging].
The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of so-called senile anemia. Using bone marrow tissue specimens prepared from 168 patients autopsied at the Second Department of Pathology of Tokyo Medical University, we measured the area of fatty marrow tissue and the luminal cross-sectional area of feeding arteries for the marrow to assess the relationship of these parameters with aging. Conversion to fatty marrow progressed with aging, and fatty marrow made up more than 50% of the overall bone marrow area in patients aged over 60 years. The nucleated cell count decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in patients aged over 60 years. Furthermore, the luminal cross-sectional area of bone marrow feeding arteries also decreased gradually with aging, declining by 18% to 26% in patients aged over 50 years compared with patients in their third decade. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.228; p < 0.001) was found between the area of fatty marrow and the luminal cross-sectional area of the bone marrow feeding arteries. In conclusion, we suggest that artherosclerotic changes associated with aging in the bone marrow have an impact on hematopoietic function and may be one of the factors involved in the development of senile anemia.
Takasaki
M
M
Department of Geriatrics, Tokyo Medical University.
Tsurumi
N
N
Harada
M
M
Rokugo
N
N
Ebihara
Y
Y
Wakasugi
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000740:Anemia / Q000473:pathology; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000098:blood supply*; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged