The development of the human fetal adenohypophysis Research supported by grant HD 00557 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

Abstract

Understanding the development of the human adenohypophysis is dependent on visualizing the growth of Rathke's pouch. This embryonic structure gives rise to bilateral anterior and posterior, superior and inferior segments. These segments differ in their potential to produce various types of hypophyseal chromophils. The potential differences are described in the text. Further, by application of specific staining procedures it has been possible to determine the approximate time that specific chromophils appear in the adenohypophysis. The chromophils of the adenohypophysis develop in the order: cell type III, I, IV, II, V, VI and IX. There may be a relationship between the development of certain chromophils and the onset of function in target endocrine glands.