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Normal·Endocrine·Pituitary gland

Anterior pituitary — acidophils, basophils, chromophobes

Stain: H&E·Magnification: 40x·Tissue: Pars distalis·3 labeled regions
Anterior pituitary — acidophils, basophils, chromophobes histology — Endocrine, Pituitary gland, H&E
Wikimedia Commons · File:Histology_of_pars_distalis_of_the_anterior_pituitary_with_chromophobes,_basophils,_and_acidophils.jpg · https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Histology_of_pars_distalis_of_the_anterior_pituitary_with_chromophobes,_basophils,_and_acidophils.jpg (CC-licensed)
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Description

Three classic Romanowsky-staining classes: acidophils (pink — GH + prolactin), basophils (blue — TSH, FSH/LH, ACTH), and chromophobes (pale — degranulated or stem cells). Adenomas classified by hormone: prolactinoma > GH > ACTH.

Labeled regions (3)

  1. 1
    Acidophil

    Pink-staining cytoplasm. Somatotrophs (GH) + mammotrophs (prolactin). Most common adenoma = prolactinoma.

  2. 2
    Basophil

    Blue/purple cytoplasm. Thyrotrophs, gonadotrophs, corticotrophs. ACTH adenomas → Cushing disease.

  3. 3
    Chromophobe

    Pale/unstained — degranulated or undifferentiated. Most "non-functioning" adenomas are chromophobic.

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