Antagonism of ethanol narcosis in mice by hyperbaric pressures of 4-8 atmospheres.

Hyperbaric treatment with 100% oxygen or oxygen-helium mixtures at 4-8 atmospheres absolute significantly reduced ethanol sleep-time and increased wake-up blood ethanol concentrations in C57 mice. The results indicate that the antagonism does not result from direct effects of oxygen nor from enhanced ethanol elimination, but appears to involve a direct effect of hyper-baric treatment.