Has bactericidal activity. Strong expression in the bone marrow and testis. Expressed in the ovarian stroma and the theca layer of the ovarian follicles. Not expressed in the granulosa layer of the ovarian follicles. Detected in the theca and granulosa layers of the ovarian follicle in the white follicle (WF), F1, F3, F5, and postovulatory follicle stages. Induced in the theca layer of the F3 stage ovarian follicle by intravenous injection of LPS. Expression in the kidney and liver is not affected by intravenous injection of LPS. Belongs to the beta-defensin family.