Early organizing cortical infarct: An H&E stain of a cortical infarct about a week to 10 days old reveals very few shrunken neurons. A few pleomorphic microglia are present as well as capillaries. Endothelial hyperplasia and capillary proliferation are part of an organizing infarct. The reactive microglial changes which take place after an infarct of the brain begin within the first week and reach a maximal response about 3 to 5 weeks after the infarct.