Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) plays an indispensable role in the process of polyamine biosynthesis. Polyamines are a pivotal part of living cells and have diverse roles in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, aging and reproduction. However, to date, there have been no reports about ODC regulating follicular development in goose ovaries. Here, we constructed ODCsiRNA and overexpression plasmids and transfected them into goose primary granulosa cells (GCs) to elucidate the effects of ODCinterference and overexpression on the polyamine metabolism, hormone levels, cell apoptosis and proliferation of granulosa cells. After interfering with ODCin GCs, the mRNA and protein levels of ODCand the content of putrescine were greatly decreased (P< 0.05). When ODCwas overexpressed, ODCmRNA and protein levels and putrescine content were greatly increased (P< 0.05). The polyamine-metabolizing enzyme genes ornithine decarboxylase antizyme 1 (OAZ1) and spermidine / spermine-N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) were significantly increased, and spermidine synthase (SPDS) was significantly decreased when ODCwas downregulated (P< 0.05). OAZ1, SPDSand SSATwere significantly increased when ODCwas upregulated (P< 0.05). In addition, after interference with ODC, progesterone (P4) levels in the culture medium of GCs increased greatly (P< 0.05), while the overexpression of ODCcaused the P4 level to decrease significantly (P< 0.05). After ODCdownregulation, granulosa cell activity was significantly reduced, the apoptosis rate was significantly increased, and the BCL-2 / BAX ratio was downregulated (P< 0.05). Under ODCoverexpression, the activity of GCs was notably increased, the apoptosis rate was significantly reduced, and the BCL-2 / BAX protein ratio was upregulated (P< 0.05). Our study successfully induced ODC interference and overexpression in goose ovarian GCs, and ODC regulated mainly putrescine content in GCs with a slight influence on spermidine and spermine. Moreover, ODC participated in the adjustment of P4 levels in the culture medium of GCs, promoted granulosa cell proliferation and inhibited granulosa cell apoptosis.