1. Having an affinity for or staining readily with acidic dyes; characteristic of cells or tissues that take up acidic stains.
Usage: technical; biology/histology

Examples

• The oxyphilic cells in the pancreas produce digestive enzymes.
• Under the microscope, oxyphilic tissues appeared bright pink when stained with eosin.
• Red blood cells are oxyphilic because they readily absorb acidic dyes.
• The pathologist identified oxyphilic granules in the cytoplasm of the specimen.
• Muscle fibers are typically oxyphilic due to their high mitochondrial content.