Fig. 2

Loss of vascular smooth muscle cells due to the progression of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. a, b Representative images of the vascular smooth muscle cells [vSMCs; smooth muscle actin (SMA)] and amyloid plaque (MX04) in the surface arteries (a) and penetrating arteries (b). Note the Aβ plaque accumulation between the vSMCs in the surface arteries, which completely envelops the blood vessels in the penetrating arteries. Scale bar = 100 µm. c, d Comparison of the distribution of SMA and MX04 in the surface arteries (c) and penetrating arteries (d) in old Tg. The white dotted lines represent the scan lines for intensity profile analysis. Note that the SMA and MX04 signals exhibit complementary profiles in both types of arteries. Scale bar = 50 µm. e, f Quantification of the coverage of vSMCs in the surface (e) and penetrating arteries (f). [e. surface arteries; p < 0.0001 (genotype*age interaction), p = 0.0005 (age), p = 0.0016 (genotype)], [f. penetrating arteries; p = 0.00211 (genotype*age interaction)]. g Quantification of the coverage of amyloid plaque in the surface and penetrating arteries [p < 0.0001 (age), p < 0.0001 (vessel type)]. 13 to 42 vessels per mouse and n = 4 per group. All data are presented as the mean ± SEM. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. Two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test