Hydraulic compression of mice to 166 atmospheres

Hydraulic uniform compression elicited tremors, uncoordinated limb movements, and tonic convulsions in liquid-breathing mice at pressures ranging from 50 to 100 atmospheres. Such abnormal muscular activity was observed neither in control animals nor in mice caudally to a spinal transection. Uniform compression of isolated preparations of mouse muscle in saline failed to contract at pressures up to 200 atmospheres.