Supplemental Nicotinic Acid Elevates NAD+ Precursors in the Follicular Fluid of Mares

Abstract

A deficiency in NAD+ has previously been linked with increased occurrences of congenital abnormalities and embryonic death in humans and mice. Early embryonic death is a major factor involved in pregnancy loss in mares, and very little is known regarding the NAD+ requirements for optimum reproductive function in horses. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing the diet of mares with nicotinic acid (NA) on the composition of NAD+ metabolites in the blood and follicular fluid. Vehicle alone or NA (3 g per os) were administered to seven mares over a minimum of 3 consecutive days during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to supplemental feeding and follicular fluid aspiration. Follicular fluid was collected from the dominant follicle through transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration. Blood and follicular fluid samples were processed and analysed by mass spectrometry. The concentration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) in the follicular fluid of NA-fed mares was 4-fold greater than that in the corresponding plasma and 10-fold greater than that in the follicular fluid of vehicle-fed mares. The concentrations of NA, nicotinamide (NAM) and nicotinuric acid (NUR) tended to be greater in the follicular fluid of NA-supplemented mares than in the corresponding plasma. The results show that NA supplementation increased the bioavailability of NAD+ precursors in the follicular fluid of the dominant follicle, which is proposed to better promote the maturation of good quality oocytes, especially in older mares.

Supplementation with NAD+ and its precursors: A rescue of female reproductive diseases

“…Bertolo et al found a decrease in NAD(P)H levels in 12-month-old aged mice, but this decrease occurred only in oocytes and not in the entire ovary [ 32 ]. Studies conducted on other species such as porcine follicles [ 33 ], equine follicles [ 34 ], and humans [ 35 ] have shown similar results with age-related decreases in NAD + . All these results indicate that NAD + is closely related to ovarian aging and that the maintenance of NAD + levels in the follicles are necessary to ensure normal ovarian development.…”

The Effect of Copper–Cadmium Co-Exposure and Hormone Remediation on the Ovarian Transcriptome of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

“…Secondly, nicotinate and nicotinamide are two forms of vitamin B3, important precursors for the synthesis of NAD+ and NADP+, which play key roles in many biological processes, including energy metabolism and DNA repair [99]. In the ovaries, NAD+ and NADP+ may influence follicle maturation and ovulation [100]. Therefore, HCG may influence ovarian development by altering the nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism pathway.…”

Nicotinic acid protects germinal vesicle oocyte meiosis in mice and humans against toxicity of benzo(a)pyrene during maturation

“…Collins et al reported that NA is a more favorable precursor than nicotinamide (NAM) in the liver, intestine, and kidneys [52]. NA supplementation increases the bioavailability of NAD + precursors in the follicular uid of the dominant follicle, which contributes to improved oocyte quality, especially in older oocytes [53]. In addition, NA treatment had a more favorable action in correcting meiosis in high-fat diet (HFD) mouse oocytes compared to nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) [54].…”