The role of this syncytium is also evident with the leukoencephalopathy observed with disruption of both Cx32 and Cx47 (75, 77), which connect the cells of the syncytium, or of Kir4.1, which appears to have a role in K+ siphoning both in oligodendrocytes (74) and astrocytes (79). The gene discussed is GJB1; the disease is Leukoencephalopathy.