English: High magnification micrograph of the parathyroid gland. H&E stain. Excised surgically for parathyroid adenoma - not seen on image.

Cells of the parathyroid:

• Parathyroid chief cells - intense hyperchromatic to eosinophilic cytoplasmic staining (see notes), abundant in number, moderate amount of cytoplasm, function - manufacture PTH.
• Oxyphil cells - moderate/light hyperchromatic to eosinophilic, rare, abundant amount of cytoplasm, function - not known.
• Adipocytes - seen in older people, increases with age.

Notes:

• Cytoplasmic staining varies considerably on H&E preparations - it may vary from hyperchromatic to clear to eosinophilic.
• Chief cells tend to stain more intensely than oxyphil cells.

• 
  Low mag.
• 
  Intermed. mag.
• 
  High mag.
• 
  High mag. (cropped)
• 
  High mag. (cropped)

• 
  Low mag.
• 
  Intermed. mag.
• 
  High mag.