CREB3L1-Associated Stromal Expression During Mechanical Remodeling of the Mouse Zygomaticomaxillary Suture

CREB3L1 expression during mechanical suture remodeling remains incompletely characterized. We examined transcripts and staining in distracted zygomaticomaxillary sutures (ZMS) from 4-week-old male C57BL/6J mice and expanded ZMS-derived cultures. Archived microscopy, four single-cell libraries, qPCR and micro-CT measurements were evaluated separately. Each single-cell condition/day represented one biological sample. Author clarification enabled micro-CT reanalysis of 61 animals. Exact tests used separate Holm corrections for tissue qPCR, culture-vessel qPCR and micro-CT. Compared with sham controls (SCs), distraction (DO) was associated with higher micro-CT bone volume at day 14 (Holm-adjusted p = 0.0346), whereas regional bone mineral density was lower in DO at days 3 and 28 (Holm-adjusted p = 0.0227 and 0.0216, respectively). With four animals per group, tissue Creb3l1 and Spp1 mean estimates were lower than same-day sham references on day 1 and higher on day 3; none of the 11 tissue qPCR comparisons was significant. Two static dishes and three stretch chambers came from one pooled six-mouse preparation in one experiment. After three days of stretch, Creb3l1 and Spp1 mean differences were −0.09 and +0.11 log2 units; both adjusted p values were 1.000. These preliminary structural and expression observations do not establish CREB3L1 activation or causality. Small samples, unreplicated single-cell conditions and incomplete imaging/batch metadata require independent validation.