Ascites Formation in the Chicken

We have observed the rapid development (4 to 7 hr after injection) of an ascitic condition in the hepatoperitoneal sac after the i.v. injection of large amounts of carbon. The amount of ascitic fluid varied from .5 to 12 ml/chicken. The protein content of the fluid was identical with that of the sera, but the specific IgM immunoglobulin was lower in the ascitic fluid than in the sera. The cellularity of the ascitic fluid was poor. Mononuclear cells containing lipid and phagosomes and aggregated thrombocytes were the predominant cells. A mechanism regulating water balance between the liver and cecal pouch was suggested by the ascitic fluid data.