Is Chromophobe a Cell?

Chromophobe cells are one of three cell stain types present in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland, the others being basophils and acidophils. One type of chromophobe cell is known as amphophils. Amphophils are epithelial cells found in the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary.

What is a chromophobe?

: not readily absorbing stains : difficult to stain chromophobe tumors.

Why is it called chromophobe?

Chromophobe cells were first described in chemically induced renal tumors in rats. Chromophobe RCC was first reported in 1985; its name was derived from the morphologic similarity between the predominant tumor cells in the human tumor to those comprising the experimentally produced rat kidney tumor.