Determination of gender from dental pulp by identification of Barr bodies: A comparative study

INTRODUCTION: The determination of gender by dental pulp Barr bodies seems to be efficient tool especially in case of natural calamities where bodies are mutilated, charred, and unidentified. Different techniques are used for Barr bodies two of which are histopathological and cytological methods. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to check the reliability of human dental pulp for identification of gender using Barr bodies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 60 extracted teeth from 20 male and 40 female patients aged 12–25 years. Inclusion criteria included non-carious freshly extracted teeth, Teeth were extracted and the pulp was obtained using a carborundum disc at 30,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). The teeth were categorized into two groups. Group 1 and Group II include 20 females and 10 males each. In group I, rapid manual tissue processing technique was done and in Group II pulp tissue slides were prepared by cytopathological technique. The slides obtained were stained with H&E and Barr bodies were visualized. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: On comparison of Barr bodies on males and females in dental pulp, the mean number of Barr body count in females was more than males. Accuracy and count were much more appreciated in histopathological technique than cytological procedure. CONCLUSION: The mean Barr body count was more in females than in male samples. In histopathological technique Barr bodies were more analyzed and appreciated than in cytopathological technique on checking the efficacy and evaluating its diagnostic significance of dental pulp for identification of gender.