ABSTRACT
The amyloid protein was, due to its localization to the media termed medin. Medin amyloid, one of the most common amyloids, affects the population. Medin amyloid is found predominantly in the inner part of the media layer. The mechanism by which medin is formed from lactadherin and if this event is normal or pathological are not known, nor are the consequences of the deposition on the surrounding tissue. Medin amyloid was often found close to the elastic lamina of the media of the aorta, and sometimes around the nuclei of smooth muscle cells. Confocal microscopy of Congo red stained frozen tissue sections clearly showed amyloid deposits within smooth muscle cells in the media layer of aorta, as well as extracellular amyloid. Intracellular medin amyloid was detected by confocal microscopy. Intracellular fibrillar deposits might be the start point of extracellular medin amyloid. Further experiments such as electron microscopy should be done to confirm the intracellular amyloid formation.
