Identification of seven hormone-producing cell types in the human pharyngeal hypophysis.

Eight adult human pharyngeal pituitary glands taken at autopsy were studied by immunocytochemistry to reveal the presence of ACTH-, lipotropin-, FSH-, LH-, TSH-, PRL-, and GH-immunoreactive cells. All of these cell types were found and quantitated in pharyngeal hypophyses from patients with no evidence of endocrine disorder. The percentage of the seven hormone-producing cell types varied from gland to gland from 1-30%; there were no marked histological differences between sexes or attributable to age. The cellular composition of the pharyngeal hypophysis shows that this gland has the capacity to produce at least seven hormones.