Effects of exogenous androgen treatment on X-chromatin

In studying a possible hormonal influence on X-chromatin frequency, buccal smears from two groups of women, one on androgen therapy and one not on androgen therapy, were compared. Both groups were nonmenstruating, renal dialysis patients, 41 to 69 years of age. For each patient the X-chromatin frequency was determined from 100 analyzable and intact buccal mucosa cells. In determining X-chromatin frequency, stringent selection criteria were used, and a selection ratio was derived by dividing by 100 the total number of cells that were counted in order to discover 100 analyzable and intact cells. Using the Guard's staining technique, no significant difference could be demonstrated in either the X-chromatin frequency or the selection ratio between the women receiving androgens and those not receiving them.