Objective To observe the changes of DR5 and DcR2 expression in ovarian granulosa cells of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of follicular development disorder in these rats. Methods Rats were subcutaneously injected with sodium prasterone sulfate to establish the PCOS model. Immunohistochemical and RT?qPCR analyses were used to observe and compare the expression of DR5 and DcR2 in ovarian granulosa cells of the rats in the PCOS group and a control group. Results Immunohistochemical results showed that, in PCOS rats, in ovarian granulosa cells at each level, the expression of DR5 was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0. 05). In ovarian preantral and antral follicular granulosa cells of the rats in the PCOS group, the expression of DcR2 was significantly increased compared with that in the same follicle level of the control group ( P < 0. 05), while there was no significant difference in DcR2 expression in primordial follicle granulosa cells ( P > 0. 05). RT?qPCR analysis showed that DR5 mRNA and DcR2 mRNA were expressed in the two groups, and their expression in the rat ovarian granulosa cells of the PCOS group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group ( P < 0. 05). Conclusions The abnormal expression of DR5 and DcR2 in granulosa cells may play a role in the abnormal development of follicles in PCOS rats. They may affect the development of follicles by participating in the process of granulosa cell apoptosis.