Chromophobes are a type of cell characterized by their specific appearance when stained, particularly lacking a strong affinity for stains.
Understanding Chromophobe Cells
Based on the definition provided, a Chromophobe Cell is identified by its microscopic features. When stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), the most common stain used in histology, these cells exhibit distinct characteristics that differentiate them from other cell types.
Key Characteristics
According to the provided information, a Chromophobe Cell is defined by:
- Presence of vesicles: They contain a large number of minute intracytoplasmic vesicles.
- Cytoplasmic appearance: These vesicles result in the cytoplasm having a pale, reticular, or flocculent appearance when stained with H&E.
The term "chromophobe" literally means "color fearing" or "lacking color affinity." This name reflects their tendency not to pick up stain intensely, appearing pale compared to other cells that stain strongly (like acidophils or basophils).
Visual Identification
Imagine looking at tissue under a microscope after it has been stained with H&E. Most cells might appear pinkish (acidophilic) or bluish (basophilic) depending on their contents and the stain's properties. Chromophobe cells, however, stand out because their cytoplasm appears much paler, almost washed out, with a fine, web-like (reticular) or fluffy (flocculent) texture due to the numerous small vesicles packed inside.
Summary Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Key Characteristic | Presence of numerous minute intracytoplasmic vesicles |
| Cytoplasm Appearance | Pale, reticular, or flocculent |
| Staining Method | Observed when stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) |
| Etymology | "Color fearing" - refers to lack of strong stain affinity |
This pale appearance is the hallmark feature used by pathologists and histologists to identify chromophobe cells in tissue samples.
