Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 66, Issue 1 238-244, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society
Behavioral thermoregulation in mice subjected to high pressure
A. G. Macdonald, N. R. Marshall and R. G. Pertwee
Department of Physiology, Marischal College, University of Aberdeen, Scotland.
Mice exposed to normoxic He and Ne at increased pressure and allowed to
choose between a neutral and a cool environment showed a preference for the
cooler environment. This behavior was apparent at 5.7 but not at 2.5 atm
He. At 11.3 atm He and Ne, the behavior was associated with a similar
reduction in the deep body temperature to a new steady level. The reduction
in body temperature increased with pressure, up to 35 atm He, the maximum
studied. Since the heat transfer of the He and Ne gas mixtures is different
and both gases exert negligible anesthetic effects, the hydrostatic
pressure most likely affects behavioral thermoregulation by affecting
neuronal function.
