Fig. 3
Chronic cortical cerebral microinfarct invaded by CD68-expressing macrophages with a phagocytic phenotype and glial fibrillary acid (GFAP)-expressing astrocytes. Example of cavitated cortical cerebral microinfarct with puckering that is located superficially (a, c and e; superior frontal, M1 motor cortex) and a second microinfarct occupying mid cortical layers (a, c and e; medial side of middle frontal gyrus) from the same case (case 1). a-b The PN stain shows cell loss in both microinfarcts (a, b) and cavitation in the superficial microinfarct that partially extends to deeper cortical layers (a). c-d Relationship of CD68--immunoreactive macrophages and changes in the microvasculature in the core region of the MI (c, d). e-f GFAP-positive astroglial cells infiltrate both the core and marginal zone of the MI and are not restricted to the zone with the dense Coll4-immunoreactive microvascular meshwork. Moreover, both the core and periphery of the MI are covered with numerous string vessels (insets d1 and f1–2). Scale bars: 2000 μm (a), 800 μm (b-d, f) and 400 μm (e)