Aortic stiffness increased significantly more with aging in male monkeys (Ep 5.08) compared to female monkeys (Ep 3.06; P<0.01), likely driven by male-specific decreases in elastin.
Absolute Event Rate: 5.08% vs 3.06%
p-value: p=<0.01
BACKGROUND: Our hypothesis was that the changes in vascular properties responsible for aortic stiffness with aging would be greater in old male monkeys than old female monkeys. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed the effects of gender differences in aging on in vivo measurements of aortic pressure and diameter and on extracellular matrix of the thoracic aorta in young adult (age, 6.6+/-0.5 years) versus old adult (age, 21.2+/-0.2 years) monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Aortic stiffness, as represented by the pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep), increased more in old male monkeys (5.08+/-0.81; P<0.01) than in old females (3.06+/-0.52). In both genders, collagen density was maintained, collagen-bound glycation end products increased, and collagen type 1 decreased. However, elastin density decreased significantly (from 22+/-1.5% to 15+/-1.2%) with aging (P<0.05) only in males. Furthermore, only old males were characterized by a decrease (P<0.05) in collagen type 3 (an isoform that promotes elasticity) and an increase in collagen type 8 (an isoform that promotes the neointimal migration of vascular smooth muscle cells). In contrast to the data in monkeys, collagen types 1 and 3 both increased significantly in aging rats. CONCLUSIONS: There are major species differences in the effects of aging on aortic collagen types 1 and 3. Furthermore, because alterations in collagen density, collagen content, hydroxyproline, and collagen advanced glycation end products were similar in both old male and female monkeys, these factors cannot be responsible for the greater increase in stiffness in old males. However, changes in collagen isoforms and the decrease in elastin observed only in old males likely account for the greater increase in aortic stiffness.
Qiu et al. (Tue,) conducted a other in Aortic stiffness and aging. Male gender and aging vs. Female gender and aging was evaluated on Aortic stiffness (pressure strain elastic modulus, Ep) (p=<0.01). Aortic stiffness increased significantly more with aging in male monkeys (Ep 5.08) compared to female monkeys (Ep 3.06; P<0.01), likely driven by male-specific decreases in elastin.