SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN MORPHOLOGY AND MORPHOMETRY OF NEUTROPHIL DRUMSTICKS

Introduction: Sex chromatin is a chromatin mass of 1 micron size usually seen at the periphery of nucleus in females. In the literature majority reported its absence in males while few reported its low incidence in males. The term ‘sex chromatin’ comprises two superficially dissimilar structures the “Barr body” present in epithelial and other tissue cells and the “Drumstick” of the polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted to observe the morphology, morphometry and percentage incidence of Drumsticks in the blood neutrophils of 110 individuals ranging from 17-30 age group and both sexes using a calibrated ocular/eye piece micrometer. Results: The percentage incidence of drumsticks including non-specific appendages as well as the total number of true drumsticks in females exceeds that in males. Four different types of nonspecific appendages-sessile nodules, racket structures, minor lobes and small clubs were found in the blood neutrophils along with the drumsticks. A higher percentage of non-specific appendages i.e. minor lobes (46.2%), racket structures (42.3%), and small clubs (11.5%) were observed in males and sessile nodules were found only in females. Conclusion: Observations on morphology, morphometry and percentage incidence of polymorphonuclear drumsticks presented a valuable data on sex differences.