Fig. 1

Multi-lumen vascular profiles (MVPs). MVPs are vascular beds consisting of ≥ 3 lumens enclosed in a perivascular space on a cross-sectional view. A, B Photomicrographs of hematoxylin-and-eosin stained blood vessels within the grey matter of frontal tissues. A What we assume to be a normal arteriole (due to its structure and size) from a 42 year-old female. B What we describe as a MVP with at least 3, lumens, some of which contain red blood cells, from a 96 year-old female. C, D Photomicrographs of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) stained MVPs in cross-section. C shows an MVP with at least 4 lumens of similar size from a 91 year-old female. D shows a MVP with at least 13 lumens of varying size from a 89 year-old male. E–G) Photomicrographs of CD34 stained MVPs. E, F show MVPs with at least 10 lumens in cross-section from a 89 year-old male. G shows a MVP cut in a longitudinal direction from a 91 year-old female. Scale bars: a-f = 50 µm, g = 100 µm