HB-EGF induces the hypersecretion of estrogen and GCs apoptosis via EGFR. A, HB-EGF content in follicular fluid between PCOS and non-PCOS patients. B, Effect of HB-EGF on estrogen secretion in the absence or presence of EGFR inhibitor PF299804. PF, PF299804. C, Regulation of HB-EGF on CYP19A1 expression with/without PF299804. N = 6. D, Effect of HB-EGF on GCs apoptosis in the existence or not of PF299804. N = 3. E and F, Real-time PCR and western blot analyses of CASP3 and BAX expression after treatment with rHB-EGF in the absence or presence of PF299804. N = 3. G, Effect of HB-EGF on CASP3 activity with/without PF299804. N = 5. * P < 0.05 versus control, # P < 0.05 versus rHB-EGF treatment.