Drosophila tachykininergic neurons modulate the activity of two groups of receptor-expressing neurons to regulate aggressive tone

Abstract

Neuropeptides influence animal behaviors through complex molecular and cellular mechanisms, many of which are difficult to predict solely from synaptic connectivity. Here, we uncovered two separate downstream targets that are differentially modulated by the neuropeptide tachykinin, which promotes Drosophila aggression. Tachykinin from a single sexually dimorphic group of neurons recruits two separate downstream groups of neurons. One downstream group, synaptically connected to the tachykinergic neurons, expresses the receptor TkR86C and is necessary for aggression. Tachykinin supports the strength of cholinergic excitatory synaptic transmission between the tachykinergic and TkR86C downstream neurons. The other downstream group expresses the TkR99D receptor and is recruited primarily when tachykinin is over-expressed in the source neurons. This circuit reconfiguration correlates with the quantitative and qualitative enhancement of aggression observed when tachykinin is present in excess. Our data highlight how the amount of neuropeptide released from a small number of neurons can reshape the activity patterns of multiple downstream neural populations.