In consistency with findings of Bruck et al., the group of Masaki et al., demonstrated that NMO cases demonstrated apart from astrocytopathy (preferential loss of astrocytic Cx43), distal oligodendrogliopathy as well (Cx43/Cx47 astrocyte-oligodendrocyte gap junctions lost), emerging in the active and chronic active stages, but not during the chronic inactive stage of the disease. This evidence concerns the gene GJA1 and neuromyelitis optica.