Behavioral thermoregulation in mice subjected to high pressure

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.