Programmed Cell Death Modifies Neural Circuits and Tunes Intrinsic Behavior

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a common feature of animal development. During development of the C. elegans hermaphrodite, programmed cell death eliminates 131 cells in stereotyped positions in the cell lineage, mostly in neuronal lineages. Blocking cell death results in supernumerary “undead” neurons. We find that undead neurons can be wired into circuits, can display activity, and can modify specific behaviors. The two undead RIM-like neurons participate in the RIM-containing circuit that computes movement. The presence of these two extra neurons results in animals that initiate fewer reversals and lengthens the duration of those reversals that do occur. We describe additional behavioral alterations of cell-death mutants, including in locomotory turning angle and pharyngeal pumping. These findings indicate that physiological or evolutionary variations in PCD might reveal latent neuronal elements that the nervous system can incorporate to modify nervous system function and animal behavior.