Closed-system habitat for high pressure exposures of animal colonies

A deep-diving system has been designed for use with colonies of small rodents at pressures up to 170 ATA. The system consists of a triple-envelope arrangement in which a modular habitat serves as the animal living quarters. The habitat contains provisions for temperature control, gas analysis, and measurement of physical performance and social interaction; it also contains food and water supplies. The surrounding envelope (an acrylic box) is used to control the composition of the gaseous environment presented to the animal colonies. The outermost envelope (a high pressure chamber) maintains the desired pressure conditions. Colonies of five deer mice have been successfully studied at pressures up to 100 ATA. Their performance has been evaluated during 1- to 4-day exposures to various gaseous environments.