Molecular effects of nicarbazin on avian reproduction

Nicarbazin (NCZ) is an anticoccidial drug routinely used in the poultry industry that can negatively affect reproduction by reducing egg production, egg weight, and egg hatchability. The molecular mechanisms by which NCZ affects reproduction are unknown. Lipoprotein lipase, vitellogenin, transglutaminase, and calcium are all involved in egg formation and embryogenesis. Therefore, in vitro assays were used to evaluate 4 potential mechanisms of action of NCZ on egg formation and embryogenesis. First, a lipoprotein lipase assay was conducted to determine if NCZ increases lipoprotein lipase activity. Second, vitellogenin phosphorylation was evaluated to determine if NCZ acts as a vitellogenin phosphatase. Third, transglutaminase activity was measured to determine if NCZ inhibits transglutaminase activity. Finally, bull sperm was used as a model to determine if specific channel-mediated calcium uptake can be blocked by NCZ. Nicarbazin increased the activity of lipoprotein lipase in vitro at 3.9 and 7.8 microg of NCZ/mL. Nicarbazin increased intracellular calcium levels in bull sperm, suggesting it also acts as a calcium ionophore. The portion of the NCZ molecule responsible for the increase in intracellular calcium is 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine. Nicarbazin affected vitellogenin phosphorylation but only at a concentration many times higher than expected plasma values. Nicarbazin also inhibited transglutaminase activity in vitro. Whereas the 4,4'-dinitrocarbanilide portion of the NCZ molecule inhibited transglutaminase activity, the 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine portion increased transglutaminase activity. All of these assays were conducted in vitro; therefore these results should be viewed as preliminary findings to aid in directing further research on the effect of NCZ on reproduction in vivo. Because NCZ increases lipoprotein lipase activity and acts as a calcium ionophore, future experiments should investigate these effects in particular.