The results demonstrated that the expression of cleaved-caspase-3, the marker for follicle atresia, in the ovarian granulosa cells was significantly increased in PCOS mice compared with the control mice; however, the expression of GDF-9 in oocyte, a positive regulator of follicle development, and the expression of the bridge protein CX37/GJA4 in granulosa cells, which mediates the connection and communication between oocyte and granulosa cells, were significantly reduced in PCOS ovaries compared with the control. Here, CASP3 is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome.