Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex
hormone-dependent developmental program where interactions between different cell types are finely regulated. Mouse models in which any of the sperm maturation steps are perturbed provide major insights into the molecular control of spermatogenesis. The Twitcher mouse is a model for the
Krabbe disease, characterized by the deficiency of
galactosylceramidase (GALC), a lysosomal
enzyme that hydrolyzes the terminal
galactose from
galactosylceramide, a typical component of the myelin membrane. In addition, GALC catalyzes the hydrolysis of the terminal
galactose from galactosyl-alkyl-acyl-
glycerol, precursor of seminolipids, specifically expressed on the membrane of germ cells. Previous data reported by our group demonstrated that
glycolipids play an important role in sperm maturation and differentiation. Moreover, we hypothesized that the severe impairment of the central nervous system that affects the Twitcher mouse could interfere with the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis function, contributing to
infertility. To highlight this hypothesis we have determined, at molecular level, the potential variation in expression pattern of brain
hormones involved in spermatogenesis regulation.