ATG5 and polycystic ovary syndrome: Both immunohistochemical staining and western blotting results indicated that the protein levels of NLRP3, ATG5, Beclin1, ULK1, as well as LC3II/I radio were enhanced, while the phosphorylation of mTOR and P70S6K was suppressed in ovarian tissues of PCOS rats, whereas BSHLD intervention abolished the above alterations (Fig. 2C, D, E).