title: [Cathepsin D expression in ovaries from polycystic ovarian syndrome patients].
abstract: To investigate the expression of cathepsin D in ovary of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  
  Western blot was performed to detect the expression of cathepsin D and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein distribution in ovarian tissue.
  
  
  
  Semi-quantity values of cathepsin D expression in PCOS and control group were 2.06 +/- 0.39 and 4.76 +/- 1.43 (P<0.05), respectively. Immunostaining for cathepsin D was obvious in both follicles and stromal cells, and the strongest immunostaining was seen in granulosa cells of follicles. Immunochemical study showed the protein was mainly located on the cytoplasm and cell membrane.
  
  
  
  Cathepsin D expression is down-regulated in ovaries of PCOS patients, which may provide a clue for the abnormality of follicle development in PCOS.
authors.affiliation: The Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yan-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiu-e
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: He-feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010053:Ovary / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D