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.