Fig. 1

The ascending aorta in patients with severe aortic stenosis – a) and e) (Weigert van Gieson staining, original magnification ×100, bar = 500 μm); b) and f) (Weigert van Gieson staining, original magnification ×200, bar = 200 μm); c) (PTAH staining, original magnification ×200, bar = 200 μm); d) (PTAH staining, original magnification, ×400): a) – b) grade 1; three foci of elastic lamellae fragmentation in 1 microscopic field of the Olympus BX41 microscope, magnification ×200; focus of elastic lamellae fragmentation comprises 2 to 4 neighboring elastic lamellae; c) grade 2; eight foci of elastic lamellae fragmentation in 1 microscopic field of the Olympus BX41 microscope, magnification ×200; confluent or scattered foci throughout the media of the aorta; d) - f) the presence of foci with elastic fragmentation in 10 or more neighboring elastic lamellae. As opposite to control aortas, aortas of aortic stenosis patients have thin subendothelial connective tissue with numerous elastic fibers. These samples are atherosclerosis free or with low grade atherosclerosis (types I – III atherosclerotic lesions)