PAX8 and chronic kidney disease: With evidence that Cx43 is upregulated in CKD, and that our heterozygous Cx43+/− UUO mouse model exhibits improved renal structure and diminished inflammation [14], we utilised our newly established tubule-directed Pax8-rtTA-cre:cx43 flox Cx43−/− mouse model to determine the effect of Cx43 tubule deletion prior to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).