Anterior pituitary acidophil

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In the anterior pituitary, the term "acidophil" is used to describe two different types of cells:

• somatotrophs, which generate somatotropin
• mammotrophs, which generate prolactin

When using standard staining techniques, they cannot be distinguished from each other (though they can be distinguished from basophils and chromophobes)^[1], and are therefore identified simply as "acidophils".

[edit] See also

• Acidophile (histology)
• Basophilic
• Oxyphil cell

[edit] References

1. ^ Histology at BU 14002loa

v • d • e Endocrine system > Pituitary gland Posterior pituitary Pars nervosa – Median eminence – Infundibular stalk Anterior pituitary Pars intermedia – Pars tuberalis – Pars distalis – Acidophils (Somatotropes, Lactotropes) – Basophils (Corticotropes, Gonadotropes, Thyrotropes)