In the parathyroid gland, the parathyroid oxyphil cell is larger and paler than the parathyroid chief cell.[1]
These cells can be found in clusters in the center of the section and at the periphery.[2][3][4][5] Oxyphil cells appear at the onset of puberty, but have no known function. With nuclear medicine scans, they selectively take up the Technetium-sestamibi complex radiotracer dye to allow delineation of glandular anatomy.[6] Oxyphil cells have been shown to express parathyroid-relevant genes found in the chief cells and have the potential to produce additional autocrine/paracrine factors, such as Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and calcitriol.[7] More work needs to be done to fully understand the functions of these cells and their secretions.
References [edit]
- ^ BU Histology Learning System: 15002loa
- ^ Gartner, p. 208, Fig. 3
- ^ Ross, p. 628, Fig. 1
- ^ DiFiore, pp. 270 - 271
- ^ Wheater, pp. 312 - 313
- ^ "Minimally Invasive Radio-guided Surgery for Primary Hyperparathyroidism," Annals of Surgical Oncology 12/07 14(12) pp 3401-3402
- ^ Ritter, Haughey, Miller, Brown (2012). J Clin Endocrinol Metab. PMID 22585091.
