Nicotinamide riboside supplementation ameliorates ovarian dysfunction in a PCOS mouse model

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility among women of reproductive age, yet the range of effective treatment options remains limited. Our previous study revealed that reduced levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of women with PCOS resulted in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, it is still uncertain whether increasing NAD⁺ levels in the ovaries could improve ovarian function in PCOS. In this study, we demonstrated that supplementation with the NAD⁺ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) prevented the decrease in ovarian NAD⁺ levels, normalized estrous cycle irregularities, and enhanced ovulation potential in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS mice. Moreover, NR supplementation alleviated ovarian fibrosis and enhanced mitochondrial function in ovarian stromal cells of PCOS mice. Furthermore, NR supplementation improved oocyte quality in PCOS mice, as evidenced by reduced abnormal mitochondrial clustering, enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased ROS levels, reduced spindle abnormality rates, and increased early embryonic development potential in fertilized oocytes. These findings suggest that supplementing with NAD⁺ precursors could be a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing ovarian infertility associated with PCOS.