Gap junction communication in myelinating glia

► Gap junction communication is crucial for myelination and axonal survival in the PNS and CNS. ► Gap junctions form a panglial syncytium between oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. ► They couple groups of cells together generating communication compartments. ► Connexons contribute to extracellular signaling via release of neurotransmitters. ► Mutations in connexin proteins change the properties and regulation of gap junctions.