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Although the ascitic fluid of animals bearing various tumors and that of mice induced by complete Freund's adjuvant had high activity for inducing differentiation of myeloid leukemic cell line (M1) from an SL mouse to macrophages and granulocyte-like cells, the activity in the ascitic fluid of syngeneic mice bearing the M1 cells was markedly reduced. Macrophages and granulocytes were abundant in the active ascites of animals bearing tumors (8 to 12% of the total ascites cells) while in the ascites of syngeneic mice bearing the M1 cells they were not (0.1 to 0.7% of the total ascites cells). Appearance of lymphocytes in the ascites of both types was not significantly different. Although the conditioned media of the Ehrlich tumor cells, M1 cells, and whole ascites cells with the M1 cells were not active in inducing differentiation of the M1 cells, the conditioned media of all the ascites cells with Ehrlich tumor cells and those of peritoneal macrophages and granulocytes in mice did show a high activity. These results indicate that the peritoneal macrophages and granulocytes in the ascites are responsible for the production of factors stimulating differentiation of the M1 cells.

Technetium-99m phytate colloids formed in vitro and in vivo were examined as radioindicators for estimation of the volume of third-space fluid in an ovarian ascites model using C3HeB/FeJ mice. In double-label experiments, the accuracy of the colloids for dilution analysis was found to be equal or superior to that of I-125 HSA. Sampling times 3--5 min after intraperitoneal administration were found to produce the best volume estimates. Four needle-stopcock assemblies inserted sequentially into the quadrants of the peritoneal cavity were used for administration and sampling of the radioindicators. The stopcocks could be closed to prevent leakage of ascitic fluid during the procedure. In contrast to radiolabeled albumin, Tc-99m phytate colloids have clinical use for simultaneous imaging of radiotracer migration to assess potential occlusion of diaphragmatic lymphatics by neoplastic cells, and for dilution analysis to estimate volume of ascitic fluid.

A factor present in rat peritoneal fluid has been found to be necessary for optimal release of histamine from peritoneal mast cells by dextran and antigen, but not by concanavalin A. Washed peritoneal mast cells suspended in a physiological medium containing bovine serum albumin require ten-fold higher concentrations of phosphatidyl serine for optimal release by concanavalin A. The peritoneal fluid activator is probably a protein of molecular weight about 180,000 Daltons.

Between 1973 to 1976, 12 ascitic cirrhotic patients with a mean plasma creatinine (pCr) of 4.4 +/- 3.0 mg/dl) were treated conservatively. During the same period 11 cirrhotics with ascites (pCr 4.3 +/- 2.8 mg/dl) were treated with LeVeen peritoneal jugular shunt. In the medically treated group mean survival was 2.4 +/- 2.7 weeks after detection of pCr elevation greater than 2.3 mg/dl. The 11 surgical patients with pCr elevation above 2.3 mg/dl survived a mean of 21.8 +/- 34.5 weeks after surgery. Four patients survived more than six months. The LeVeen shunt also resulted in significant weight loss, reduction in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), elevation of serum sodium, and increase of renal clearance of sodium. In appropriately selected patients it reverses the hepato-renal syndrome.