GJA1 and polycystic ovary syndrome: In the current study, the expression of ITGA genes was significantly lower in PCOS oocytes than in normal oocytes, including ITGA1, ITGA4, ITGA6, ITGAV, and ITGAX. GJA1 (CX43), which localizes in gap junctions between oocyte and CCs and participates in primordial follicle assembly, is downregulated in PCOS oocytes, suggesting that oocytes in PCOS patients may not connect well with the surrounding CCs33.