BNIP3L and polycystic ovary syndrome: This was demonstrated by elevated transcript levels of autophagy-related receptors NIX and Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain (RHEB), as well as autophagy genes such as Atg9 and Atg12, in ovarian granulosa cells of females with PCOS or in mice with PCOS induced by DHT (137, 138).