logically, We can use barr body as marker to discriminate between male and female nuclei. histone macroH2A1 staining is used to identify barr body due to histone macroH2A1 content of histone protein which play important role in silencing of whole X chromosome.

Best regards.

A mass of heterochromatin (sex chromatin) is frequently observed in somatic cells of females but not males. In the oral epithelial cells, heterochromatic sex chromatin appears as a small granule adhering to the nuclear envelope. These superficial buccal cells lining the cheeks are frequently used to study sex chromatin or as a very convenient source of nucleated cells for DNA analyses. In neutrophils, chromatin often has the shape of a drumstick projecting from the multilobed nucleus that is unique to these cells.

Kind regards

Agree with others, Barr bodies - condensations at the nuclear membrane that are limited to female cells are the easiest way to differentiate female and male cells.

Yes. Cytologically, the easiest way to discriminate between the male and female nuclei is to look for Barr bodies (X-chromatin) which appear as wedge shaped structure attached to the nuclear membrane of squamous epithelial cells (usually intermediate squamous epithelial cells) of buccal scrapings or examining for so called 'drum stick' attached to the terminal lobe of a multi-lobed neutrophils on a simple peripheral blood film.

FISH is the best option! But quite expensive!

By looking at the presence of barr body in a cell nucleus by simple leishman stain may give the idea about female cell

I think the bar bodies and drumstick are the easiest method to find out

I would think FISH for Xist (to identify the female cell population)

The simplest and cheepest way is to visualize Bar Bodies in a buccal mucosa smear. You have to do with a control from a fertile female. Using a saline soaked wet swab make a few smears on glass slides, stain with Romonowski/ Leishman stain and look for Bar Body; a tiny, well demarkated, oval, dense chromatin structure over the nuclear membrane. You may not see this structure in all cells, depending on its position of the cells that you see in the smear. therefore if it is clearly visible in about 30% of cells it is taken as positive.

You can visualize Bar Bodies easily in a leishman Stained blood film. It is seen as a small dense nuclear structure attached to the folded nucleaus of neutrophils. It is called drumstic as well. It is attached to the nucleus by a thin strand of nuclear material. Again it is not seen in all neutrophils due to its position of the cell in smear.

If visualized it is a clear sign female genotype.

Hope this answer is of some help

Dr Anna Saparamadu. consultant Pathologist

I agree with previous answers but as Barr body is not seen in all cells of buccal mucosa and also the drum stick is not visible in all neutrophils so the most accurate method is FISH tecq. to demonstrate Y chromosome

Agree with others, Barr bodies are the easiest way to differentiate female and male cells.

Fish with Y and X chromosome DNA probes used together is the only reliable method in mixed cultures or a wide variety of cell types. Forget Barr body or Xist detection - they only work under limited circumstances

Thank you very much for your answers! We finally used FISH for Y-chromosome to determine the percentage of male nuclei in mixed myotubes. The results of the study are published here: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280535621_Correction_of_the_FSHD_Myoblast_Differentiation_Defect_by_Fusion_With_Healthy_Myoblasts

Article Correction of the FSHD Myoblast Differentiation Defect by Fu...