Embolus extravasation is an alternative mechanism for cerebral microvascular recanalization

Uninterrupted blood flow through the small vessels of the brain is essential for cerebral function and viability. Small clots that form in the vessels can be — but are not always — removed by haemodynamic forces and the fibrinolytic system. Here, a third mechanism for the removal of emboli is described: the endothelial cells that line the vessel walls send out membrane projections that envelop the emboli and move them into the perivascular parenchyma tissue. In aged mice, this process is markedly delayed.