Spatial characterization of backpropagating action potential-evoked Ca²⁺ signals in human cortical layer 2/3...

In pyramidal neurons, backpropagating action potentials (bAPs) activate voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs), producing compartment-specific dendritic Ca²⁺ transients. While extensively characterized in rodent models, little is known about the spatial properties and channel-specific contributions of bAP-induced Ca²⁺ signals in human cortical neurons.

We used simultaneous whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and two-photon Ca²⁺ imaging in acute human cortical slices to characterize bAP-evoked Ca²⁺ transients along the apical dendrites of layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons.

We found that Ca²⁺ signal amplitudes followed a non-linear spatial profile, increasing proximally and peaking between 50-100 µm from the soma before declining in more distal regions. Oblique dendrites exhibited significantly higher Ca²⁺ amplitudes compared to the primary apical branches. Morphological parameters, such as dendritic diameter, spine density, and branching, were correlated with the spatial profile of Ca²⁺ transients to the peak of the calcium signal profile. Pharmacological blockade of VGCCs revealed that major channel subtypes (L-, N-, R-, and T-type) contribute to dendritic Ca²⁺ influx, with distinct spatial effects. In particular, N-type channel blockade produced the largest attenuation in the medial dendritic segments, while T-type channel inhibition affected all regions.

These findings highlight spatial heterogeneity and channel-specific contributions to dendritic Ca²⁺ signaling in human neocortical neurons and underscore the influence of dendritic morphology on signal propagation.