The properties of nuclear matter are discussed with the relativistic mean-field (RMF) theory. Then, we use two models in studying the in-medium properties of + : A pointlike + in the usual RMF and a KπN structure for the pentaquark. It is found that the in-medium properties of + are dramatically modified by its internal structure. The effective mass of + in medium is, at normal nuclear density, about 1030 MeV in the pointlike model, whereas it is about 1120 MeV in the KπN pentaquark model. The nuclear potential depth of + in the KπN model is approximately −37.5 MeV, much shallower than −90 MeV in the usual pointlike RMF model.