Chromophobe cell

A chromophobe cell is a cell that does not stain readily, and thus appears relatively pale under the microscope. It is contrasted with a chromophil cell that does stain easily.

Chromophobe cells are one of three cell stain types present in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland, the others being basophilic and acidophilic. One type of chromophobe cell is known as amphophilic. Amphophils are epithelial cells found in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary. Together, these epithelial cells are responsible for producing the hormones of the anterior pituitary and releasing them into the bloodstream. Melanotrophs (also, Melanotropes) are another type of chromophobe which secrete melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).