An anterior pituitary basophil is a type of cell in the anterior pituitary which manufactures hormones.
It is called a basophil because it is basophilic (readily takes up bases), and typically stains a relatively deep blue or purple.
These basophils are further classified by the hormones they produce. (It is usually not possible to distinguish between these cell types using standard staining techniques.)
Cell name Relative proportion Hormone produced Hypothalamic regulators Corticotrophs 15% ACTH CRH Gonadotrophs 10% FSH, LH and hCG* GnRH Thyrotrophs 5% TSH TRH *Produced only in pregnancy by the developing embryo.
See also Chromophobe cell Melanotroph Chromophil Acidophil cell Oxyphil cell Oxyphil cell (parathyroid) Pituitary gland Neuroendocrine cell Basophilic
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