Histology for Pathology

Endocrine Organs
Theresa Kristopaitis, MD
Associate Professor
Director of Mechanisms of Human Disease

Kelli A. Hutchens, MD, FCAP

Assistant Professor
Assistant Director of Mechanisms of Human Disease

Loyola Stritch School of Medicine

 Objectives
Pitutary Gland
•On low power and high power sections distinguish the adenohypophysis (anterior
pituitary) from the neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary).
•List the 2 hormones that are secreted by the hypothalamus and stored in the
posterior pituitary.
•Define “Hering Body”.
•Explain in general terms the staining patterns of chromophobes, basophils and
acidophils of the anterior pituitary.
•List the 6 hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary and the cell type by which they
are each secreted.

Thyroid Gland
•On H&E stained sections, identify thyroid follicles and colloid.
•Describe the cell type that lines thyroid follicles.
•List the hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland.
 
Parathyroid gland
•List the two cell types of the parathyroid glands.
 
Adrenal Gland
•On low power distinguish the adrenal cortex from the medulla.
•On low power distinguish the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and
zona reticularis and list the hormones secreted by each.
•List the substances secreted by the chromaffin cells of the adrenal
medulla.
 
Endocrine Pancreas
•On low power distinguish the Islets of Langerhans.
•List the hormones produced by the alpha, beta, delta and PP cells.
 Pituitary Gland
Anterior pituitary gland Posterior pituitary gland
(Adenohypophysis, Pars Distalis) (Neurohypophysis, Pars Nervosa)
Stains “red-blue” Pale staining
Adenohypophysis – high power

The adenohypophysis
contains 3 cell types:
-acidophils (stain red)
-basophils (stain blue)
-chromophobes (pale
stain)

The adenohyphysis stains

red-blue on low power
because of the acidophils
and basophils
 Why know the cell types of the
adenohypophysis?
• Acidophils secrete growth hormone and
prolactin

• Basophils secrete TSH, LH and FSH and ACTH

• Chromophobes are undifferentiated cells

Neurohypophysis – high power

The neurohypophysis
resembles neural tissue, with glial
cells, nerve fibers, nerve endings,
and intra-axonal neurosecretory
granules

Precursors of ADH (vasopressin)

and oxytocin are synthesized in
the hypothalamus and
transported to the pars nervosa
where processing is completed
Neurohypophysis – high power

Hering bodies are large

dilated axon terminal
endings that are filled with
accumulated neurosecretory
granules
Thyroid Gland

Thyroid Follicles are

filled with pink
material which is
colloid

The follicles normally

vary in size
Thyroid follicle – high power

Normal thyroid follicles

are lined by a low cuboidal
follicular epithelium
Thyroid gland – high power

Parafollicular cells (C-cells)

lie between follicles and
secrete Calcitonin
Parathyroid Gland – low power

Low power of
parathyroid, showing
random cords of cells.
The parathyroid is
somewhat lobulated in
appearance and
considerable adipose
tissue is intermingled
with secretory portions.

Adipose tissue Cords of cells

 Parathyroid Gland – high power
Chief
cells
Oxyphil cells

2 cells types of the Parathyroid:

Chief cells secrete parathormone
(PTH). They have large round nuclei
with a small amount of clear
cytoplasm.

Oxyphil cells have smaller, darker

nuclei and relatively larger amount
of cytoplasm. The significance of
the oxyphil cells is not clear.
Adrenal Gland – Low power
capsule

cortex

medulla
 Adrenal Cortex –low power
Mineralocorticoids -
Zona glomerulosa
aldosterone

Glucocorticoids –
Zona fasciculata Cortisol, corticosterone

Androgens–
dehydroepiandrosteron
Zona reticularis e
 Endocrine Pancreas
Islets of Langerhans

Low power High power

 Endocrine Pancreas
• Cells in the islets of Langerhans
– Alpha – secrete glucagon
– Beta – secrete insulin
– Delta – secrete somatostatin and gastrin
– PP – secrete pancreatic polypeptide