An anterior pituitary basophil is a type of cell in the anterior pituitary which manufactures hormones.

It is called a basophil because it is basophilic (readily takes up bases), and typically stains a relatively deep blue or purple.

[1] These basophils are further classified by the hormones they produce.

(It is usually not possible to distinguish between these cell types using standard staining techniques.)

*Produced only in pregnancy by the developing embryo.